Fig. 1: Structure, composition, and optical properties of protonated CDs.

a TEM image of CDs (inset, particle size distribution of CDs); b high-resolution TEM image of CDs; c−f: full scale XPS spectra, high-resolution C 1s, N 1s, and O 1s XPS spectra of CDs; g, h one-photon and two-photon fluorescence (FL) spectra of protonated CDs in deionized water; i relationship of two-photon FL intensity and femtosecond (fs) laser power.