Title:	Carbon-based nanopigments derived from açaí seed residues with tunable optical properties and biofunctional performance.
Authors:	CARVALHO, C. J. R. de BARACHO, P. H. L. CARVALHO, F. D. de Q. LIMA, A. R. LEITÃO, A. M. O. TANIGUCHI, C. A. K. MATTOS, A. L. A. FREIRE, T. M. CARNEIRO, S. V. SANTOS-OLIVEIRA, R. FREIRE, R. M. FECHINE, P. B. A.
Affiliation:	CLAUDIO JOSE REIS DE CARVALHO, CNPAT; PEDRO HILTON LIMA BARACHO, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO CEARÁ; FRANCISCO DHEYSON DE QUADRO CARVALHO, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO CEARÁ; ALLYSSON ROCHA LIMA, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO CEARÁ; ANTÔNIO MATHEUS OSTERNO LEITÃO, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE PERNAMBUCO; CARLOS ALBERTO KENJI TANIGUCHI, CNPAT; ADRIANO LINCOLN ALBUQUERQUE MATTOS, CNPAT; TIAGO MELO FREIRE, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO CEARÁ; SAMUEL VELOSO CARNEIRO, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO CEARÁ; RALPH SANTOS-OLIVEIRA, INSTITUTO DE ENGENHARIA NUCLEAR; RAFAEL MELO FREIRE, UNIVERSIDAD CENTRAL DE CHILE; PIERRE BASILIO ALMEIDA FECHINE, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO CEARÁ.
Date Issued:	2026
Citation:	Dyes and Pigments, v. 252, 113781, Sept. 2026.
Description:	Bio-based carbon nanomaterials have attracted increasing interest as sustainable alternatives to conventional dyes and pigments due to their tunable optical properties and multifunctionality. In this work, carbon-based nanopigments were synthesized from agro-industrial residues of açaí palm (Euterpe oleracea) seeds via a hydrothermal process. The resulting nanomaterials were structurally and optically characterized and evaluated for their functional performance in aqueous media and biological systems. Spectroscopic analyses revealed broad and intense absorption in the ultraviolet–visible region, associated with π–π∗ and n–π∗ electronic transitions typical of carbonaceous chromophores, along with excitation-dependent photoluminescence behaviour. Structural characterization indicated nanoscale particles with surface functional groups rich in oxygen- and nitrogen-containing moieties, which contribute to their dispersibility, optical response, and interaction with surrounding media. The nanopigments exhibited high colloidal stability and preserved their optical properties at low concentrations, demonstrating suitability for applications requiring efficient light–matter interaction. In agro-related applications, foliar treatment with the nanopigments at low concentrations (10 mg L−1) promoted marked improvements in early plant development, increasing relative growth rate by 24.4% in maize and 164.6% in sorghum, while root volume increased by 23.1 and 59.9%, respectively, compared to untreated controls. These results demonstrate that the optical activity and surface functionality of the carbon nanopigments can be effectively translated into measurable biological responses, highlighting their multifunctional potential across both optically active materials and emerging agricultural technologies.
Thesagro:	Açaí
NAL Thesaurus:	Biofortification
Keywords:	Nanopigments Carbon quantum dot Nanofertilizers Nanopigmentos Ponto quântico de carbono Nanofertilizantes Biofortificação
ISSN:	1873-3743
DOI:	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dyepig.2026.113781
Type of Material:	Artigo de periódico
Access:	openAccess
Appears in Collections:	Artigo em periódico indexado (CNPAT)