In this communication, we fabricated graphene oxide membranes with tunable permeation by embedding carbon nanodots of controllable sizes.

Fluorescent nitrogen-enriched carbon nanodots (C-dots) of 1 to 3 nm were obtained through a one-pot reaction between melamine and glycerol. These C-dots show quantum yields up to 22% and a high two-photon absorption cross-section. The TiO₂ based photoanode sensitized by these C-dots is capable of converting near IR photon energy to photocurrent.