This　study　investigates　the　mechanism　behind　the　enhancedphotocatalyticperformance　of　carbon　quantum　dot　(CQD)-induced　photocatalysts.　Redluminescent　CQDs　(R-CQDs)　were　synthesized　using　a　microwave　ultrafastsynthesis　strategy,　exhibiting　similar　optical　and　structural　propertiesbut　varying　in　surface　functional　group　sites.　Model　photocatalystswere　synthesized　by　combining　R-CQDs　with　graphitic　carbon　nitride(CN)　using　a　facile　coupling　technique,　and　the　effects　of　differentfunctionalized　R-CQDs　on　CO2　reduction　were　investigated.This　coupling　technique　narrowed　the　band　gap　of　R1-CQDs/CN,　madethe　conduction　band　potentials　more　negative,　and　made　photogeneratedelectrons　and　holes　less　likely　to　recombine.　These　improvements　greatlyenhanced　the　deoxygenation　ability　of　the　photoinduced　carriers,　increasedlight　absorption　of　solar　energy,　and　raised　the　carrier　concentration,resulting　in　excellent　stability　and　remarkable　CO　production.　R1-CQDs/CNdemonstrated　the　highest　photocatalytic　activity,　with　CO　productionup　to　77　&　mu;mol　g(-1)　within　4　h,　which　is　approximately5.26　times　higher　than　that　of　pure　CN.　Our　results　suggest　that　thesuperior　photocatalytic　performance　of　R1-CQDs/CN　arises　from　itsstrong　internal　electric　field　and　high　Lewis　acidity　and　alkalinity,attributed　to　the　abundant　pyrrolic-N　and　oxygen-containing　surfacegroups,　respectively.　These　findings　offer　a　promising　strategy　forproducing　efficient　and　sustainable　CQD-based　photocatalysts　to　addressglobal　energy　and　environmental　problems.