Sustainable synthesis of carbon quantum dots from cow dung using alkaline-assisted hydrothermal method with potential uses for photocatalytic and photovoltaic applications

Animals produce billions of tons of dung annually. It contributes to the contamination of the environment. Concerns have also been raised regarding water contamination and the potential health risks posed by the enormous volume of animal dung. Numerous scientists are of the opinion that animal feces significantly contribute to global warming. It is anticipated that by 2030, the world will generate at least 5 billion tons of dung, the vast majority of which will come from livestock. Every day, milk cows produce 62 kilograms of manure, which accounts for nearly 10% of a typical cow's weight. Cow dung is a well-known source of carbon because of its high cellulose content. Therefore, it is a renewable, environmentally friendly, abundant, and nontoxic carbon source to produce carbon quantum dots (CQDs). CQDs can be produced from natural biomass sources to promote sustainable development on a global scale. This is a positive development because waste is converted into valuable and useful resources. This study used an alkalineassisted hydrothermal technique to synthesize CQDs from cow dung. The potential applications of CQDs in photocatalytic and photovoltaic applications were preliminary carried out.