Tapioca powder as a source of organic carbon was utilized in the synthesis of carbon dots through optimization of the synthesis parameters. Photoluminescent quantum yield (PLQY) was obtained under the visible region of 340 nm at 34.9%, successfully achieved without the usage of dopants such as sulfur and nitrogen popularly used to increase the value of photoluminescence. The characterization of carbon dots such as FTIR and HrTem, were carried out for the analysis of functional groups, particle sizes (1-5 nm) and shapes (quasi-spherical). The high carbon-carbon bonds and oxygen groups detected in FTIR analysis validates the basis of fluorescence of carbon dots and also presence of hydroxyl (OH), carboxylic acids (COO), and other vital functional groups (C=O, C−O-C, C−H).