Wang, ShujunLemon, ZacharyCole, Ivan S.Li, Qin2026-06-112026-06-112046-2069ORCID:/0000-0001-6582-1457/work/217149503https://hdl.handle.net/1885/733810437We report a simple route combining bottom-up and top-down strategies for the synthesis of partially ring-terminated graphene quantum dots (GQDs) employing aniline for modifying the molecular structure of GQD edges. In contrast to the GQDs synthesized without introducing ring-terminals by aniline conjugation, the photoluminescence of such partially ring-terminated GQDs can be quenched by the aromatic molecules owing to the edge-localized π-π interactions. This study provides a generalizable strategy in functionalizing GQDs towards aromatic molecule sensors, as well as important insight to the effect of edge-localized π-π interaction in perturbing the electronic structure of GQDs.7enPublisher Copyright: © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2015.201510.1039/c5ra04927j84929224225