Carbon dots (CDs) are novel nanomaterials with dimensions lower than 10 nm which have attracted a lot consideration because of their excellent optical properties. Nevertheless, the event of solid-state fluorescence and afterglow strategies has been comparatively gradual, though the properties of those supplies underneath liquid situations have been extensively studied. In recent times, embedding CDs in a matrix has been proven to forestall aggregation quenching and inhibit nonradiative transitions, thus realizing solid-state fluorescence and afterglow, which has significantly broadened the analysis and software areas of CDs. By way of hydrogen bonding, ionic bonding, covalent bonding and spatial confinement, the interactions between CDs and matrices can successfully notice and enhance the solid-state fluorescence and afterglow results of CDs. Latest functions of CDs in matrices in optoelectronics, data safety, sensing, biotherapeutics and imaging are additionally summarized. Lastly, we summarize the challenges and developments of CDs in matrices.
