(DLS) measurements were carried out on a Malvern particle size analyzer
(Zetasizer nano series, Nano-ZS) at room temperature. Absorption spectra
of the samples were recorded on a Shimadzu UV-3600 plus. XRD measurements
were performed on a Rigaku Ultima IV X-ray Diffractometer with Cu
Kα radiation (λ = 1.54 A°). The 2Θ range was
from 10 to 60° in a step of 0.02°. FTIR spectra were measured
within the range of 4000–500 cm–1 using a
JASCO FT/IR-4200 Fourier transform infrared spectrometer. X-ray photoelectron
spectroscopy (XPS) measurements were performed on a Thermo Fisher
Scientific ESCALAB Xi+. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy
(HRTEM) experiments for the PPQ-CDs were performed on a Technai T20
200 keV, FEI. Fluorescence data were recorded on a Hitachi F-7000
fluorescence spectrofluorometer. Fluorescence lifetime measurements
were performed with a Horiba Deltaflex modular fluorescence lifetime
system using the following instrumental settings: 340 nm NanoLED,
peak preset of 10,000 counts, and emission wavelength of 450 nm; quartz
cuvettes were used for the measurement procedures. 1H NMR
spectra were measured on a Bruker AVANCENEO (400 MHz) with a magnet
system: ASCEND 400 MHz/ 54 mm-long hold-time magnet operation, field
at 9.4 Tesla with an autosampler.