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Bio-inspired Polydopamine Surface Modification of Nanodiamonds and Its Reduction of Silver Nanoparticles
Published on: November 14, 2018
Water-soluble nanodiamond
Oleksandr Kuznetsov1, Yanqiu Sun, Ryan Thaner
1Department of Physics, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States.
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|February 25, 2012
Summary
Researchers created a nanodiamond salt that can be functionalized with organic groups. This process enhances nanodiamond solubility in water, paving the way for new applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Organic Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Annealed nanodiamonds possess reactive graphenic edges.
- Functionalization of nanomaterials is key to tailoring their properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a method for functionalizing nanodiamonds.
- To enhance the water solubility of nanodiamonds.
Main Methods:
- Reduction of nanodiamond edges using sodium in liquid ammonia to form a nanodiamond salt.
- Reaction of the nanodiamond salt with alkyl or aryl halides to generate free radicals.
- Functionalization via radical addition to aromatic rings.
- Sulfonation and conversion to sodium salts.
- Preparation of carboxylate-functionalized nanodiamonds.
Main Results:
- Nanodiamonds were successfully functionalized with phenyl radicals and carboxylic acid groups.
- Phenyl-functionalized nanodiamond sodium salt showed a water solubility of 248 mg/L.
- Carboxylate-functionalized nanodiamond sodium salt exhibited a water solubility of 160 mg/L.
Conclusions:
- A novel route to functionalize nanodiamonds was established.
- The developed methods significantly improve nanodiamond water solubility.
- This work opens possibilities for nanodiamonds in aqueous applications.

