Carbon dots (C-dots) are nano-sized particles of carbon that exhibit unique electronic, optical and chemical properties due to their exceptional physico-chemical properties. These small, high surface-to-volume ratio materials are semiconductors that glow under irradiation, making them ideal for detecting ionizing radiation. Conventional plastic scintillators rely on energy transfer from the ultraviolet to visible light via organic fluorophores. The ability of CDs to absorb photons in the ultraviolet range and emit them in the visible range means that they could potentially replace organic fluorophores in their role as a bridge between ultraviolet and visible light. With low production costs, they can be synthesized either by conventional stepwise organic synthesis or, more rapidly, by top-down or bottom-up single-step approaches using a variety of chemicals. In this context, we have recently developed an interesting synthesis route enabling the preparation of C-dots emitting at different wavelengths, thus covering the entire visible range.