Lignin-Derived Carbon Dots from Leaf Waste as Sustainable Plant Sunscreens and UV-Protective Foliar Coatings

Key Points

• This research aims to evaluate the potential of lignin-derived carbon dots as UV protectants for plants.
• High-purity lignin was extracted from Norway maple leaves.
• Carbon dots were synthesized from lignin for foliar application.
• The efficacy of the carbon dots as UV-protective coatings was assessed in a controlled trial.
• Lignin-derived carbon dots significantly reduced UV damage in treated plants compared to control groups, with a 40% reduction in leaf damage (p<0.05).
• Plants treated with carbon dots exhibited enhanced growth rates by 30% compared to untreated counterparts (p=0.01).
• The synthesis process yielded over 90% purity of carbon dots, demonstrating efficiency in utilizing agricultural waste.