Semiconductor quantum dots (CdSe and PbS) have commonly been used in solid state lighting and biomedical applications, however, these particles exhibit high toxicity and low biocompatibility. As an alternative, carbon quantum dots (C-dots) have recently gained much attention due to their increased biocompatibility and low toxicity while maintaining fluorescence and high photostability. The focus of this research is to optimize the synthesis of C-dots for use in fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) sensors, such as ion sensors, biosensors, and pH sensors. This work has studied the kinetics of the acid catalyzed hydrolysis of biomimetic precursors, more specifically sugars, through fluorescence and absorbance measurements to explore the impact on the optical properties of the resultant C-dots. In addition, based on the mechanism of the particle nucleation, the synthesized C-dots can be easily modified for specific applications through interactions with the functional groups (alcohols and carbonyls) present on the surface. Future work will incorporate the optimized C-dots into polymeric media for use as a solid state FRET sensor.