Ultradispersity of diamond at the nanoscale

Surface structure and properties of functionalized nanodiamonds: a first-principles study

The goal of this work is to gain fundamental understanding of the surface and internal structure of functionalized detonation nanodiamonds (NDs) using quantum mechanics based density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The unique structure of ND assists in the binding of different functional groups to its surface which in turn facilitates binding with drug molecules. The ability to comprehensively model the surface properties, as well as drug-ND interactions during functionalization, is a challenge and is the problem of our interest. First, the structure of NDs of technologically relevant size (∼5 nm) was optimized using classical mechanics based molecular mechanics simulations. Quantum mechanics based density functional theory (DFT) was then employed to analyse the properties of smaller relevant parts of the optimized cluster further to address the effect of functionalization on the stability of the cluster and reactivity at its surface. It is found that functionalization is preferred over reconstruction at the (100) surface and promotes graphitization in the (111) surface for NDs functionalized with the carbonyl oxygen (C = O) group. It is also seen that the edges of ND are the preferred sites for functionalization with the carboxyl group (-COOH) vis-à-vis the corners of ND.

A general procedure to functionalize agglomerating nanoparticles demonstrated on nanodiamond

Upon reduction of particle size to the nanometer range, one has to deal with the general issue of spontaneous agglomeration, which often obstructs postsynthesis modification of nanoparticle surfaces. A technique to cope with this phenomenon is required to realize a wide variety of applications using nanoparticles in solvents or as refined assemblies. In this article, we report on a new technique to facilitate surface chemistry of nanoparticles in a conventional glassware system. A beads-assisted sonication (BASD) process was examined to break up persistent agglomerates of nanodiamonds in two different reactions for simultaneous surface functionalization. The chosen reactions are the silanization with an acrylate-modified silane and the arylation using diazonium salts. The BASD process can be successfully applied even where the original material is not dispersible in the reaction solvent at all, as the formation of ever smaller, increasingly functionalized agglomerates is improving their solubility. We have confirmed that the presence of ceramic beads enables functionalization of each primary particle, while conventional magnetic stirring or beadless sonication can reach primary particles only when agglomeration is loose. Additionally, mechanical surface modification of nanodiamond was found to take place by BASD with high energy density, leading to sp(2)-hybridized surface patches on nanodiamond. This allowed for the efficient grafting of aryl groups to the surface of primary diamond nanoparticles. Stable, homogeneously functionalized nanodiamond particles in colloidal solution can be obtained by this method.

The surface properties of nanocrystalline diamond and nanoparticulate diamond powder and their suitability as cell growth support surfaces

Nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) films and nanoparticulate diamond powder (DP) are the two main representatives of diamond at the nanoscale. This study was designed to investigate the suitability of these biomaterials as cell growth supports and to determine surface characteristic properties best suited to cell attachment and proliferation. Surface topography, chemical termination and wetting properties of NCD- and DP-coated borosilicate glass substrates were correlated to attachment, proliferation and differentially regulated gene expression of human renal epithelial cells (HK-2 cell line) cultured on these surfaces. Hydrogen-terminated NCD (NCD-H) surfaces were shown to inhibit cell attachment, which indicates that the lack of functional polar groups prevents adherent cells from settling on a surface, whether nanostructured or not. In contrast to NCD-H, oxygen-terminated NCD (NCD-O) as well as DP surfaces demonstrated improved cell attachment, as compared to borosilicate glass, which is a commonly used material for cell growth supports. NCD-O not only revealed an increased cell attachment, but also a markedly increased proliferation rate. Finally, none of the investigated surface modifications appeared to cause adverse cellular reactions or markedly alter cellular phenotype.

Protein-mediated assembly of nanodiamond hydrogels into a biocompatible and biofunctional multilayer nanofilm

Aqueous dispersible detonation nanodiamonds (NDs) with a diameter of 2-8 nm were assembled into a closely packed ND multilayer nanofilm with positively charged poly-L-lysine via the layer-by-layer deposition technique. The innate biocompatibility of the NDs in both free-floating and thin-film forms was confirmed via cellular gene expression examination by real-time polymerase chain reaction as well as MTT and DNA fragmentation assays. The highly biologically amenable ND nanofilm was successfully integrated with therapeutic molecules, and the functionality of the composite drug-ND material was assessed via interrogation of the suppression of inflammatory cytokine release. Knockdown of lipopolysaccharide-mediated inflammation was observed through the potent attenuation of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6, and inducible nitric oxide synthase levels following ND nanofilm interfacing with RAW 264.7 murine macrophages. Furthermore, basal cytokine secretion levels were assessed to examine innate material biocompability, revealing unchanged cellular inflammatory responses which strongly supported the relevance of the NDs as effective treatment platforms for nanoscale medicine. In addition to the easy preparation, robustness, and fine controllability of the film structures, these hybrid materials possess enormous potential for biomedical applications such as localized drug delivery and anti-inflammatory implant coatings and devices, as demonstrated in vitro in this work.

Spatially resolved electronic and vibronic properties of single diamondoid molecules

Diamondoids are a unique form of carbon nanostructure best described as hydrogen-terminated diamond molecules. Their diamond-cage structures and tetrahedral sp3 hybrid bonding create new possibilities for tuning electronic bandgaps, optical properties, thermal transport and mechanical strength at the nanoscale. The recently discovered higher diamondoids have thus generated much excitement in regards to their potential versatility as nanoscale devices. Despite this excitement, however, very little is known about the properties of isolated diamondoids on metal surfaces, a very relevant system for molecular electronics. For example, it is unclear how the microscopic characteristics of molecular orbitals and local electron-vibrational coupling affect electron conduction, emission and energy transfer in the diamondoids. Here, we report the first single-molecule study of tetramantane diamondoids on Au(111) using scanning tunnelling microscopy and spectroscopy. We find that the diamondoid electronic structure and electron-vibrational coupling exhibit unique and unexpected spatial correlations characterized by pronounced nodal structure across the molecular surfaces. Ab initio pseudopotential density functional calculations reveal that much of the observed electronic and vibronic properties of diamondoids are determined by surface hydrogen terminations, a feature having important implications for designing future diamondoid-based molecular devices.

Diamond at the nanoscale: applications of diamond nanoparticles from cellular biomarkers to quantum computing

Although nanocrystalline diamond powders have been produced in industrial quantities, mainly by detonation synthesis, for many decades their use in applications other than traditional polishing and grinding have been limited, until recently. This paper presents the wide-ranging applications of nanodiamond particles to date and discusses future research directions in this field. Owing to the recent commercial availability of these powders and the present interest in nanotechnology, one can predict a huge increase in research with these materials in the very near future. However, to fully exploit these materials, fundamental as well as applied research is required to understand the transition between bulk and surface properties as the size of particles decreases.

The strong thermoelectric effect in nanocarbon generated by the ballistic phonon drag of electrons

The thermoelectric power and thermoelectric figure of merit for carbon nanostructure consisting of graphite-like (sp(2)) and diamond-like (sp(3)) regions have been investigated. The probability of electron collisions with quasi-ballistic phonons in sp(2) regions has been analysed for the first time. We have shown that the probability is not small. We have analysed the influence of various factors on the process of the electron-ballistic phonon drag (the phonon drag effect). The thermoelectric power and thermoelectric figure of merit under conditions of ballistic transport were found to be substantially higher than those in the cases of drag by thermalized phonons and of electron diffusion. The thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) in the case of a ballistic phonon contribution to the phonon drag of electrons should be 50 times that for chaotic phonons and 500 times that in the case of the diffusion process. In that case ZT should be a record (ZT≥2-3).

Coherent coexistence of nanodiamonds and carbon onions in icosahedral core-shell particles

The general approach for describing and designing complex hierarchical icosahedral structures is discussed. Structural models of icosahedral carbon nanoparticles in which the local arrangement of atoms is virtually identical to that in diamond are derived. It is shown that icosahedral diamond-like particles can be transformed into onion-like shell structures (and vice versa) by the consecutive smoothing (puckering) of atomic networks without disturbance of their topological integrity. The possibility of coherent coexistence of icosahedral diamond-like core with onion shells is shown.

Investigating the role of hydrogen in ultra-nanocrystalline diamond thin film growth

Hydrogen has long been known to be critical for the growth of high-quality microcrystalline diamond thin films as well as homoepitaxial single-crystal diamond. A hydrogen-poor growth process that results in ultra-nanocrystalline diamond thin films has also been developed, and it has been theorized that diamond growth with this gas chemistry can occur in the absence of hydrogen. This study investigates the role of hydrogen in the growth of ultra-nanocrystalline diamond thin films in two different regimes. First, we add hydrogen to the gas phase during growth, and observe that there seems to be a competitive growth process occurring between microcrystalline diamond and ultra-nanocrystalline diamond, rather than a simple increase in the grain size of ultra-nanocrystalline diamond. Second, we remove hydrogen from the plasma by changing the hydrocarbon precursor from methane to acetylene and observe that there does seem to be some sort of lower limit to the amount of hydrogen that can sustain ultra-nanocrystalline diamond growth. We speculate that this is due to the amount of hydrogen needed to stabilize the surface of the growing diamond nanocrystals.

Nanomaterials under high-pressure

The use of high-pressure for the study and elaboration of homogeneous nanostructures is critically reviewed. Size effects, the interaction between nanostructures and guest species or the interaction of the nanosystem with the pressure transmitting medium are emphasized. Phase diagrams and the possibilities opened by the combination of pressure and temperature for the elaboration of new nanomaterials is underlined through the examination of three different systems: nanocrystals, nano-cage materials which include fullerites and group-14 clathrates, and single wall nanotubes. This tutorial review is addressed to scientist seeking an introduction or a panoramic view of the study of nanomaterials under high-pressure.

Thermodynamics of Diamond Nucleation on the Nanoscale

To have a clear insight into the diamond nucleation upon the hydrothermal synthesis and the reduction of carbide (HSRC), we performed the thermodynamic approach on the nanoscale to elucidate the diamond nucleation taking place in HSRC supercritical-fluid systems taking into account the capillary effect of the nanosized curvature of the diamond critical nuclei, based on the carbon thermodynamic equilibrium phase diagram. These theoretical analyses showed that the nanosize-induced interior pressure of diamond nuclei could drive the metastable phase region of the diamond nucleation in HSRC into the new stable phase region of diamond in the carbon phase diagram. Accordingly, the diamond nucleation is preferable to the graphite phase formation in the competing growth between diamond and graphite upon HSRC. Meanwhile, we predicted that 400 MPa should be the threshold pressure for the diamond synthesis by HSRC in the metastable phase region of diamond, based on the proposed thermodynamic nucleation on the nanoscale.