Nanodiamonds have excellent mechanical and optical properties, high surface areas and tunable surface structures. They are also non-toxic, which makes them well suited to biomedical applications. Here we review the synthesis, structure, properties, surface chemistry and phase transformations of individual nanodiamonds and clusters of nanodiamonds. In particular we discuss the rational control of the mechanical, chemical, electronic and optical properties of nanodiamonds through surface doping, interior doping and the introduction of functional groups. These little gems have a wide range of potential applications in tribology, drug delivery, bioimaging and tissue engineering, and also as protein mimics and a filler material for nanocomposites.

The properties and applications of nanodiamonds

Sulfate radical-based advanced oxidation processes (SR-AOPs) employing heterogeneous catalysts to generate sulfate radical (SO4 −) from peroxymonosulfate (PMS) and persulfate (PS) have been extensively employed for organic contaminant removal in water. This article aims to provide a state–of–the–art review on the recent development in heterogeneous catalysts including single metal, mixed metal, and nonmetal carbon catalysts for organic contaminants removal, with particular focus on PMS activation. The hybrid heterogeneous catalyst/PMS systems integrated with other advanced oxidation technologies is also discussed. Several strategies for the identification of principal reactive radicals in SO4 −–oxidation systems are evaluated, namely (i) use of chemical probe or spin trapping agent coupled with analytical tools, and (ii) competitive kinetic approach using selective radical scavengers. The main challenges and mitigation strategies pertinent to the SR-AOPs are identified, which include (i) possible formation of oxyanions and disinfection byproducts, and (ii) dealing with sulfate produced and residual PMS. Potential future applications and research direction of SR-AOPs are proposed. These include (i) novel reactor design for heterogeneous catalytic system based on batch or continuous flow (e.g. completely mixed or plug flow) reactor configuration with catalyst recovery, and (ii) catalytic ceramic membrane incorporating SR-AOPs.

Generation of sulfate radical through heterogeneous catalysis for organic contaminants removal: Current development, challenges and prospects

Dingcai Wu,*,† Fei Xu,† Bin Sun,† Ruowen Fu,† Hongkun He,‡ and Krzysztof Matyjaszewski*,‡ †Materials Science Institute, Key Laboratory for Polymeric Composite and Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, People's Republic of China ‡Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States

Design and Preparation of Porous Polymers

Conversion of Biomass into Chemicals over Metal Catalysts

and Applications of Fullerenes, Carbon Dots, Nanotubes, Graphene, Nanodiamonds, and Combined Superstructures Vasilios Georgakilas,† Jason A. Perman,‡ Jiri Tucek,‡ and Radek Zboril*,‡ †Material Science Department, University of Patras, 26504 Rio Patras, Greece ‡Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacky University in Olomouc, 17 listopadu 1192/12, 771 46 Olomouc, Czech Republic

Broad family of carbon nanoallotropes: classification, chemistry, and applications of fullerenes, carbon dots, nanotubes, graphene, nanodiamonds, and combined superstructures.

The surface chemical properties and the electronic properties of vapor grown carbon nanofibers (VGCNFs) have been modified by treatment of the oxidized CNFs with NH3. The effect of treatment temperature on the types of nitrogen functionalities introduced was evaluated by synchrotron based X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), while the impact of the preparation methods on the surface acid−base properties was investigated by potentiometric titration, microcalorimetry, and zeta potential measurements. The impact of the N-functionalization on the electronic properties was measured by THz-Time Domain spectroscopy. The samples functionalized via amination are characterized by the coexistence of acidic and basic O and N sites. The population of O and N species is temperature dependent. In particular, at 873 K nitrogen is stabilized in substitutional positions within the graphitic structure, as heterocyclic-like moieties. The surface presents heterogeneously distributed and energetically different basic sites....

Tuning the acid/base properties of nanocarbons by functionalization via amination

Analysis of the structure and chemical properties of some commercial carbon nanostructures

Heteroatoms increase the selectivity in oxidative dehydrogenation reactions on nanocarbons.

[Zhang, Jian; Su, Dang Sheng; Wang, Rui] Chinese Acad Sci, Inst Met Res, Shenyang Natl Lab Mat Sci, Shenyang 110016, Peoples R China. [Zhang, Jian; Su, Dang Sheng; Blume, Raoul; Schloegl, Robert] Max Planck Soc, Fritz Haber Inst, Dept Inorgan Chem, D-14195 Berlin, Germany. [Yang, Xiangguang] Changchun Inst Appl Chem, State Key Lab Rare Earth Resource Utilizat, Changchun, Peoples R China. [Gajovic, Andreja] Rudjer Boskovic Inst, Mol Phys Lab, Zagreb, Croatia.;Su, DS (reprint author), Chinese Acad Sci, Inst Met Res, Shenyang Natl Lab Mat Sci, 72 Wenhua Rd, Shenyang 110016, Peoples R China;dangsheng@fhi-berlin.mpg.de

Surface Chemistry and Catalytic Reactivity of a Nanodiamond in the Steam-Free Dehydrogenation of Ethylbenzene

We study catalyst support interactions during chemical vapor deposition of carbon nanotubes by in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy over a wide range of pressures. We observe Fe 2+ and 3+ interface states for metallic Fe on Al2O3 in the absence of measurable Al reduction. This support interaction is much stronger than that on SiO2, and it restricts Fe surface mobility. The resulting much narrower Fe catalyst particle size distribution on Al2O3 leads to a higher carbon nanotube nucleation density and a vertical nanotube alignment due to proximity effects. We record the growth kinetics of carbon nanotube forests by optical imaging to understand effects that contribute to growth termination.

Raoul Blume

Papers

Tuning the acid/base properties of nanocarbons by functionalization via amination

Analysis of the structure and chemical properties of some commercial carbon nanostructures

Heteroatoms increase the selectivity in oxidative dehydrogenation reactions on nanocarbons.

Surface Chemistry and Catalytic Reactivity of a Nanodiamond in the Steam-Free Dehydrogenation of Ethylbenzene

In-situ X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy Study of Catalyst−Support Interactions and Growth of Carbon Nanotube Forests