A team consisting of undergraduates Tong Xinyang, Ge Zijian and Liu Yuchao from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) won the Grand Prize in the National Final of the 2nd National Student Chemical Experiment Innovation and Design Competition.
Their experiment, "The Highlight of Food Waste - Exploring the Preparation and Application of Carbon Quantum Dots Using Food Waste at Home", uses common food waste such as bitter melon head, banana peel and watermelon rind as raw materials. Through a series of conditions optimization, the team innovatively developed the preparation of carbon quantum dots as a home experiment. Elementary and middle school students and even kindergarten children can use simple kitchenware to make carbon quantum dots under the guidance of their parents. Besides, high school students with a certain level of chemistry are especially encouraged to go into the laboratory and carry out multi-color fluorescence regulation on the basis of home preparation methods, to find the colorful side of carbon quantum dots, to investigate the burst effect and the mechanism of various metal ions on carbon quantum dot fluorescence, and to help young people learn chemistry through science experiments.
The national final of the 2nd National Student Chemical Experiment Innovation Design Competition was jointly organized by the Chinese Chemical Society and the National Demonstration Center for Experimental Education. This competition was first held in Northeast, North, East, Central, South, Northwest and Southwest China, with about 800 teams from 350 universities. Finally, 90 teams representing 90 participating universities were selected to enter the national final hosted by Qingdao University of Science and Technology. The total score consists of two parts, the experimental work and the online defense, each accounting for 50%.
We look forward to more successes from USTC in future competitions.
List of national finalists: https://cid.nju.edu.cn/redirectActionxwgl/detail/112
