Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) embedded into synthesized Amoc (N-anthracenemethyloxycarbonyl) capped aromatic amino acid based units in completely aqueous environments exhibit blue light emitting self-healable hydrogels. These Amoc amino acid/GQD assemblies in hydrogel states encourage blue light emission under UV irradiation at a wavelength of 365 nm. The quenching in emission spectra reveals strong pi-pi stacking interactions within aromatic GQDs and Amoc-amino acids. Fluorescence spectra confirm the stabilization of GQDs on fibrils and electron microscopy images depict the distribution of GQDs on the nanofibrillar 3D networks. The self-healing properties and thixotropic nature of the hydrogels can be tuned by the inclusion of GQDs.
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