Nanodiamonds (NDs) are members of the diverse structural family of nanocarbons that includes many varieties based on synthesis conditions, post-synthesis processes, and modifications. First studied in detail beginning in the 1960s in Russia, NDs have now gained world-wide attention due to their inexpensive large-scale synthesis based on the detonation of carbon-containing explosives, small primary particle size (∼ 4 to 5 nm) with narrow size distribution, facile surface functionalization including bio-conjugation, as well as high biocompatibility. It is anticipated that the attractive properties of NDs will be exploited for the development of therapeutic agents for diagnostic probes, delivery vehicles, gene therapy, anti-viral and anti-bacterial treatments, tissue scaffolds, and novel medical devices such as nanorobots. Additionally, biotechnology applications have shown the prospective use of NDs for bioanalytical purposes, such as protein purification or fluorescent biolabeling. This review critically e...

Nanodiamond Particles: Properties and Perspectives for Bioapplications

A new scanning electrochemical microscopy tip positioning method that allows topography and surface activity to be resolved independently is presented. A SECM tip is oscillated relative to the surface of interest. Changes in the oscillation amplitude, caused by the intermittent contact of the SECM tip with the surface of interest, are used to detect the surface of interest, and as a feedback signal for various types of imaging.

Scanning electrochemical microscopy

4.3. Manganese Oxide-Based Compounds 1291 4.3.1. MnO2-Type Compounds 1291 4.3.2. Ternary Lithiated LixMnOy Compounds 1293 4.4. Vanadium Pentoxide V2O5 1298 4.4.1. V2O5 Structure 1298 4.4.2. LixV2O5 Bulk Phases 1300 4.4.3. LixV2O5 Crystallized Thin Films 1303 4.5. Titanium Oxide-Based Compounds 1305 4.5.1. Lithium Titanate Li4Ti5O12 1306 4.5.2. TiO2 Anatase 1308 5. Phospho-olivine LiFePO4 Compound 1312 6. General Conclusion 1314 7. Acknowledgments 1315 8. References 1315

Raman Microspectrometry Applied to the Study of Electrode Materials for Lithium Batteries

Catalyst support materials exhibit great influence on the cost, performance, and durability of polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells. This feature article summarizes several important kinds of novel support materials for PEM fuel cells (including direct methanol fuel cells): nanostructured carbon materials (carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, mesoporous carbon), conductive doped diamonds and nanodiamonds, conductive oxides (tin oxide/indium tin oxide, titanium oxide, tungsten oxide), and carbides (tungsten carbides). The advantages and disadvantages, the acting mechanism to promote electrocatalytic performance, and the strategies to improve present catalyst support materials and search for new ones are discussed. This is expected to shed light on future development of catalyst supports for PEM fuel cells.

Novel catalyst support materials for PEM fuel cells : current status and future prospects

Publisher Summary The electroactivity of nucleic acids was discovered several years ago. It was shown that at mercury electrodes, adenine and cytosine were reduced in ssDNA while guanine produced an anodic signal due to the oxidation of guanine reduction product. The DNA signals at mercury electrodes are highly sensitive to changes in DNA structure due to DNA denaturation and renaturation, as well as to minor structural changes resulting from DNA premelting and DNA damage. The changes in DNA structure are reflected not only by the DNA faradaic responses but also by non-faradaic signals due to adsorption/desorption of DNA. Several interesting principles have been used in the development of the DNA sensors—such as amplified electrochemical analysis, investigation of charge transport, and tracing of changes in conformation of DNA. The s ensors for DNA hybridization and DNA damage lead the field of the electrochemistry of nucleic acids. The chapter briefly summarizes some properties of the elimination voltammetry with linear scan (EVLS) method. Oscillographic polarography, at controlled alternating current, was used in the electrochemical analysis of nucleic acids.

Electrochemistry of nucleic acids.

Diamond and carbonaceous films grown in a microwave assisted plasma reactor have been characterized by x‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. This study is mainly focused on the identification of the different carbonaceous compounds which can coexist with the diamond depending on the synthesis parameters. Selective etching reactions and the excitation wavelength dependence of Raman cross sections of the different carbon species reveal that the broad and poorly structured Raman spectra in the 1100–1700 cm−1 region contain six components that arise from three different carbonaceous species: (i) one species is graphitic and is identified from the components at about 1350 and 1590 cm−1 which are resonantly enhanced as compared to the other components when the excitation energy is lowered from 3 to 2 eV. (ii) The second species is associated with the two broad bands at 1350 and 1550 cm−1 and is attributed to amorphous diamond‐like carbon (a‐C:H); both bands are resonantly enha...

Bernadette Marcus

Papers

Analysis of the structure of multi‐component carbon films by resonant Raman scattering

Photochemical oxidation of hydrogenated boron-doped diamond surfaces

Local order in CVD diamond films : Comparative Raman, x-ray-diffraction, and x-ray-absorption near-edge studies

Nucleosides and ODN electrochemical detection onto boron doped diamond electrodes.

Direct amination of hydrogen-terminated boron doped diamond surfaces