Ultrasmall Nanodiamonds: Perspectives and Questions

Nanodiamonds are at the heart of a plethora of emerging applications in areas ranging from nanocomposites and tribology to nanomedicine and quantum sensing. The development of alternative synthesis methods, a better understanding, and the availability of ultrasmall nanodiamonds of less than 3 nm size with a precisely engineered composition, including the particle surface and atomic defects in the diamond crystal lattice, would mark a leap forward for many existing and future applications. Yet today, we are unable to accurately control nanodiamond composition at the atomic scale, nor can we reliably create and isolate particles in this size range. In this perspective, we discuss recent advances, challenges, and opportunities in the synthesis, characterization, and application of ultrasmall nanodiamonds. We particularly focus on the advantages of bottom-up synthesis of these particles and critically assess the physicochemical properties of ultrasmall nanodiamonds, which significantly differ from those of larger particles and bulk diamond

Functionalized Nanodiamond Reinforced Biopolymers

The present invention includes a composition for implantation in a patient, comprising surface-functionalized nanodiamonds and at least one biodegradable biocompatible polymer. The present invention also includes a surgical fixation device for use in a patient

Adhesion of two-dimensional titanium carbides (MXenes) and graphene to silicon

Two-dimensional transition metal carbides (MXenes) have attracted a great interest of the research community as a relatively recently discovered large class of materials with unique electronic and optical properties. Understanding of adhesion between MXenes and various substrates is critically important for MXene device fabrication and performance. We report results of direct atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements of adhesion of two MXenes (Ti3C2Tx and Ti2CTx) with a SiO2 coated Si spherical tip. The Maugis-Dugdale theory was applied to convert the AFM measured adhesion force to adhesion energy, while taking into account surface roughness. The obtained adhesion energies were compared with those for mono-, bi-, and tri-layer graphene, as well as SiO2 substrates. The average adhesion energies for the MXenes are 0.90 ± 0.03 J m-2 and 0.40 ± 0.02 J m-2 for thicker Ti3C2Tx and thinner Ti2CTx, respectively, which is of the same order of magnitude as that between graphene and silica tip

Achieving Superlubricity with 2D Transition Metal Carbides (MXenes) and MXene/Graphene Coatings

Two-dimensional (2D) materials have demonstrated unique friction and antiwear properties unmatched by their bulk (3D) counterparts. A relatively new, large and quickly growing family of two-dimensional early transition metal carbides and nitrides (MXenes) present a great potential in different applications. There is a growing interest in understanding the mechanical and tribological properties of MXenes, however, no report of MXene superlubricity in a solid lubrication process at the macroscale has been presented. Here we investigate the tribological properties of two-dimensional titanium carbide (Ti3C2) MXene deposited on SiO2-coated silicon (Si) substrates subjected to wear by sliding against a diamond-like carbon (DLC)-coated steel ball counterbody using a ball-on-disc tribometer. We have observed that a reduction of the friction coefficient to the superlubric regime (0.0067 ± 0.0017) can be achieved with Ti3C2 MXene in dry nitrogen environment. Moreover, the addition of graphene to Ti3C2 further reduced the friction by 37.3% and wear by the factor of 2 as compared to Ti3C2 alone, while the superlubricity behavior of the MXene remains unchanged. These results open up new possibilities for exploring the family of MXenes in various tribological applications

Separation and Liquid Chromatography Using a Single Carbon Nanotube

Use of a single template-grown carbon nanotube as a separation column to separate attoliter volumes of binary mixtures of fluorescent dyes has been demonstrated. The cylindrical nanotube walls are used as stationary phase and the surface area is increased by growing smaller multi-walled carbon nanotubes within the larger nanotube column. Liquid-liquid extraction is performed to separate selectively soluble solutes in a solvent, and chromatographic separation is demonstrated using thin, long nanotubes coated inside with iron oxide nanoparticles. The setup is also used to determine the diffusion coefficient of a solute at the sub-micrometer scale. This study opens avenues for analytical chemistry in attoliter volumes of fluids for various applications and cellular analysis at the single cell level

Perspectives of 2D MXene Tribology

The Large and Rapidly Growing Family of 2D Early Transition Metal Carbides, Nitrides, and Carbonitrides (MXenes) Raises Significant Interest in the Materials Science and Chemistry of Materials Communities. Discovered a Little More Than a Decade Ago, MXenes Have Already Demonstrated Outstanding Potential in Various Applications Ranging from Energy Storage to Biology and Medicine. the Past Two Years Have Witnessed Increased Experimental and Theoretical Efforts toward Studying MXenes\u27 Mechanical and Tribological Properties When Used as Lubricant Additives, Reinforcement Phases in Composites, or Solid Lubricant Coatings. Although Research on the Understanding of the Friction and Wear Performance of MXenes under Dry and Lubricated Conditions is Still in its Early Stages, It Has Experienced Rapid Growth Due to the Excellent Mechanical Properties and Chemical Reactivities Offered by MXenes that Make Them Adaptable to Being Combined with Other Materials, Thus Boosting their Tribological Performance. in This Perspective, the Most Promising Results in the Area of MXene Tribology Are Summarized, Future Important Problems to Be Pursued Further Are Outlined, and Methodological Recommendations that Could Be Useful for Experts as Well as Newcomers to MXenes Research, in Particular, to the Emerging Area of MXene Tribology, Are Provided

Phonon Confinement Effects in the Raman Spectrum of Nanodiamond

Nanodiamonds (ND) exhibit unique properties due to their small size and high surface-to-volume ratio compared to bulk diamonds. A reduction in crystal size also affects ND Raman spectra. The confinement of optical phonons in nanocrystals (\u3c10 nm) results in asymmetrically broadened Raman lines, which are shifted toward lower wavenumbers. The phonon confinement model (PCM) relates the observed changes in the Raman spectra to the crystal size and can be used for size characterization at the nanoscale. While the PCM was successfully applied to a variety of materials including Si and BN, results remained unsatisfactory in the case of ND. In order to improve the agreement between the predictions of the model and experimental Raman spectra of ND, effects such as crystal size distribution, lattice defects, and the energy dispersion of the phonon modes were taken into consideration and incorporated into the PCM. This work has shown that phonon wave vectors from small vibrational domains lead to a broad shoulder peak at ~1250 cm-1, that is often observed in the Raman spectrum of ND

Molecular Dynamics Study of the Mechanical Properties of the Grapheme-like Titanium Carbide Ti2C

Molecular dynamics simulations have been performed to study the mechanical properties of two-dimensional titanium carbide under tensile deformation. Young modulus was calculated from the linear part of strain-stress curve. From the radial distribution function it is found that the structure of the simulated samples is preserved during the deformation process. Calculated values of the elastic constants are in good agreement with the DFT data

Molecular Dynamics Study of the Mechanical Properties of the Grapheme-like Titanium Carbide Ti2C

Molecular dynamics simulations have been performed to study the mechanical properties of two-dimensional titanium carbide under tensile deformation. Young modulus was calculated from the linear part of strain-stress curve. From the radial distribution function it is found that the structure of the simulated samples is preserved during the deformation process. Calculated values of the elastic constants are in good agreement with the DFT data

Understanding the Effect of Sodium Polyphosphate on Improving the Chemical Stability of Ti3c2tz Mxene in Water

Degradation of MXenes in aqueous environments severely limits the application and industrialization of this large family of two-dimensional (2D) materials. Hydrolysis and oxidation are now considered as two main degradation mechanisms and while significant efforts have been directed to prolonging the shelf-life of MXenes, separating and studying their degradation mechanisms have lagged behind. Herein, gas analysis via gas chromatography and Raman spectroscopy were used to investigate the effect of sodium polyphosphate, PP, on the degradation of Ti3C2Tz MXene. Transmission and scanning electron microscopies, as well as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopywere also used as complimentary techniques to support conclusions derived from gas analysis and to confirm the extent of degradation via characterization of solid reaction products. Based on these studies we have determined that the addition of PP to an equal mass of Ti3C2Tz solution can effectively suppress hydrolysis and protect Ti3C2Tz from degradation