Carbon dots (CDs) have received immense attention in the last decade because they are easy-to-prepare, nontoxic, and tailorable carbon-based fluorescent nanomaterials. CDs can be categorized into three subgroups based on their morphology and chemical structure: graphene quantum dots (GQDs), carbon quantum dots (CQDs), and carbonized polymer dots (CPDs). The detailed structures of the materials can vary significantly, even within the same category. This property is particularly predominant in chemically synthesized CPDs, as their formation proceeds via the polymerization–carbonization of molecules or polymer precursors. Abundant precursors endow CPDs with versatile structures and properties. A wide variety of carbon nanomaterials can be grouped under the category of CPDs because of their observed diversity. It is important to understand the precursor-dependent structural diversity observed in CPDs. Appropriate nomenclature for all classes and types of CPDs is proposed for the better utilization of these emerging materials.

碳点（CD）在过去十年中受到了极大的关注，因为它们易于制备、无毒且可定制的碳基荧光纳米材料。CDs可以根据其形态和化学结构分为三个子组：石墨烯量子点（GQDs）、碳量子点（CQDs）和碳化聚合物点（CPDs）。即使在同一类别中，材料的详细结构也可能有很大差异。这种特性在化学合成的 CPD 中尤为突出，因为它们的形成是通过分子或聚合物前体的聚合碳化进行的。丰富的前体赋予 CPD 多种结构和特性。由于观察到的多样性，可以将多种碳纳米材料归入 CPD 类别。了解 CPD 中观察到的前体依赖性结构多样性非常重要。为了更好地利用这些新兴材料，提出了所有类别和类型的 CPD 的适当命名法。