Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.hhmgqnktm

Description of the Data and File Structure

This dataset provides the raw and processed data necessary to replicate the analyses of:

1. The effect of the amount of urea added in the synthesis on the properties of the resulting carbon dots (CDs).
2. The effect of the type and amount of the incorporated CDs on the properties of the poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) films.

The dataset is organized in two Excel files:

• Datasets_for_CDs_characterization.xlsx
• Datasets_for_film_characterization.xlsx

Files and Variables

1. Datasets_for_CDs_characterization.xlsx

Description: Contains raw and processed data for the characterization of CDs. Samples are labeled according to the amount of urea (0.0–2.0 g) used during synthesis. For example, CDs-0g, CDs-0.5g, CDs-1.0g, and CDs-2.0g correspond to carbon dots synthesized with 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 g of urea, respectively.

Sheets included:

Sheet 1: UV–Vis of CDs

CDs-0g_wavelength (nm): wavelength (in nm) measured for the sample CDs-0g.

CDs-0g_Abs. : absorbance intensity of the sample CDs-0g.

The same naming convention is applied to the other samples (CDs-0.5g, CDs-1.0g, and CDs-2.0g).

Sheet 2: Fluorescence spectra of CDs

Organized into three categories:
a) Fluorescence spectra of different CDs types at excitation 365 nm: measured for samples CDs-0g, CDs-0.5g, CDs-1.0g, CDs-2.0g.
Each dataset includes columns:

Wavelength (nm): measured wavelength in nanometers

Intensity (a.u.): measured fluorescence intensity in arbitrary units

b) Fluorescence spectra of CDs-1.0g at various excitation wavelengths: measured at Excitation 325 nm, Excitation 365 nm, Excitation 405 nm. Each dataset includes columns:

Wavelength (nm): measured wavelength in nanometers

Intensity (a.u.): measured fluorescence intensity in arbitrary units

c) Fluorescence spectra of CDs-1.0g under different NaCl concentrations (excitation at 365 nm): measured in NaCl 0M, NaCl 0.5M, NaCl 1.0M, NaCl 1.5M, NaCl 2.0M. Each dataset includes columns:

Wavelength (nm): measured wavelength in nanometers

Intensity (a.u.): measured fluorescence intensity in arbitrary units

Sheet 3: FTIR of CDs

This sheet contains the Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectra of the albedo powder, CDs-0g, CDs-0.5g, CDs-1.0g, and CDs-2.0g samples. Each dataset includes:

• Wavenumber (cm-1)
• Transmittance (%)

Sheet 4: Zeta potentials of CDs

Includes Zeta potential (mV) and Intensity (a.u.) of the samples CDs-0g, CDs-0.5g, CDs-1.0g, CDs-2.0g.

Sheet 5: DLS of CDs

Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) size distribution of the samples CDs-0g, CDs-0.5g, CDs-1.0g, CDs-2.0g. Each dataset includes columns: Size (nm) and Intensity (a.u.)

Sheet 6: Quantum Yield

Categories: Fluorescence Spectra, Absorbance Spectra, and Quantum Yield Calculation.

• Sample: quinine sulphate, CDs-0g, CDs-0.5g, CDs-1.0g, CDs-2.0g.

• Columns for Fluorescence and Absorbance: Wavelength (nm), Intensity (a.u.).

• Quantum Yield Calculation: ·       

  ·        F: Integrated fluorescence emission intensity obtained upon excitation at 350 nm.

  ·        A: Absorbance at 350 nm.

  The Quantum yield can be calculated using the equation:

  Y_x = Y_s × (F_x / F_s) × (A_s / A_x) × (η_x / η_s)^2
  

  where Y = quantum yield, η = refractive index (1.33), s = standard fluorophore, x = sample.

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2. Datasets_for_film_characterization.xlsx

Description: Contains raw and processed data for characterization of PVA and PVA/CDs films. Films are labeled by CD types (CDs-0g, CDs-0.5g, CDs-1.0g, CDs-2.0g) and loadings (3%, 5%, 7%, 10%).

Example: PVA/CDs-0g-5% refers to a PVA film incorporating 5 wt% CDs-0g.

Sheets included:

Sheet 1: UV–Vis

Wavelength (nm) and Transmittance (%) for the PVA and PVA/CDs films.

• PVA Wavelength (nm): Wavelengths (nm) measured for the neat PVA film.

• PVA Transmittance (%): Transmittance intensity (%) of the neat PVA film.

  The same naming convention applies to other samples, including PVA films containing 5 wt% of different types of CDs (PVA/CDs-0g-5%, PVA/CDs-0.5g-5%, PVA/CDs-1.0g-5%, PVA/CDs-2.0g-5%) and PVA films containing different loadings of CDs-1.0g (PVA/CDs-1.0g-3%, PVA/CDs-1.0g-5%, PVA/CDs-1.0g-7%, and PVA/CDs-1.0g-10%).

Sheet 2: FTIR

Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectra of the pristine PVA film and the PVA films containing different CDs types and loadings including PVA, PVA/CDs-0g-5%, PVA/CDs-0.5g-5%, PVA/CDs-1.0g-5%, PVA/CDs-2.0g-5%, and PVA/CDs-1.0g-3%, PVA/CDs-1.0g-5%, PVA/CDs-1.0g-7%, PVA/CDs-1.0g-10%.
Each dataset includes:

• Wavenumber (cm⁻¹)
• Transmittance (%)

Sheet 3: TGA

This sheet contains thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) data for the same set of films described above. Each dataset includes:
• Temperature (°C)
• Weight (%)

Sheet 4: DPPH scavenging

This sheet contains the absorbance intensity of the pristine 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) solution, both with and without film immersion, measured at 517 nm.

• Sample: including DPPH 0.1 mM and same set of films described above

• Repeat: Each test was performed in triplicate (1, 2, 3).

• Absorbance at 517 nm: the absorbance intensity measured at 517 nm

The DPPH radical scavenging activity can be calculated using the equation:

Antioxidant (%) = (A0 - A) / A0 × 100

where A0 = absorbance of pristine DPPH, A = absorbance after contact with the film.

Sheet 5: Tensile strength & Elongation

This sheet includes raw mechanical testing data for the PVA-based films.

• Sample: PVA, PVA/CDs-0g-5%, PVA/CDs-0.5g-5%, PVA/CDs-1.0g-5%, PVA/CDs-2.0g-5%,
PVA/CDs-1.0g-3%, PVA/CDs-1.0g-5%, PVA/CDs-1.0g-7%, and PVA/CDs-1.0g-10%.

• Repeat: Each test was performed three times (n = 3).

• Thickness (mm): Measured film thickness.

• Width (mm): Measured width of each film strip.

• Peak load (mN): Maximum load applied at the breaking point of the sample

• L – Lo (mm): Difference between the final length (L) and the initial gauge length (L₀ = 24 mm).

The tensile strength and elongation at break can be calculated using the equations:

Tensile strength (MPa) = Peak load (mN) / (Thickness (mm) × Width (mm) × 1000)
Elongation at break (%) = (L - Lo) / Lo × 100

Sheet 6: Water swelling & solubility

This sheet contains raw data used to calculate the WVTR of the PVA-based films.

·  Sample: Same as listed above.

·  Repeat: Each test was performed in triplicate (n = 3).

·  W₀ (g): Initial weight of the film-sealed vial.

·  W₁ (g): Weight after storage in a drying oven at 45 °C for 20 h.

·  A (m²): Area of the vial opening.

The WVTR values were calculated according to the equations:

Water swelling (%) = (W1 - W0) / W0 × 100
Water solubility (%) = (W0 - W2) / W0 × 100

Sheet 7: Water transmission rate (WVTR)\

This sheet contains raw data used to calculate the WVTR of the PVA-based films.

• Sample: Same as listed above.

• Repeat: Each test was performed in triplicate (n = 3).

• W₀ (g): Initial weight of the film-sealed vial.

• W₁ (g): Weight after storage in a drying oven at 45 °C for 20 h.

• A (m²): Area of the vial opening.

The WVTR values were calculated according to the equations:

WVTR (g/(m²·h)) = (W0 - W1) / (A × 20)

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Code/Software

No specialized software is required. All data can be accessed and analyzed using Microsoft Excel.

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Access Information

• Other publicly accessible locations: None
• All data are original and derived from the authors’ experiments.