A method for forming a graphene quantum dot product includes adding an organic starting material to a vessel and heating the organic starting material to a temperature within 20° C. of the organic starting material's boiling temperature for a time no longer than ten minutes to form graphene quantum dots. A method for sensing a graphene quantum dot includes forming a graphene quantum dot, exciting the graphene quantum dot with light having a first wavelength, measuring light emitted by the excited graphene quantum dot at a second wavelength different from the first wavelength. A graphene quantum dot includes carbon atoms and nitrogen atoms where the nitrogen atoms are present within the graphene quantum dot at a level between 6.0% and 11.0% of a level of carbon atoms present in the graphene quantum dot.