Fungal Mycelium Conversion into Ultrananocrystalline Diamond via Microwave Plasma Pyrolysis

Abstract

Fungal mycelium has been touted as an environmentally sustainable potential replacement for a wide range of materials commonly used today, including textiles, building materials, and medical bandages. Additional applications of mycelium are possible through pyrolysis, wherein chitin in the mycelium is carbonized to produce useful carbon allotropes like biochar or activated carbon. Here, we demonstrate that this pyrolysis process can be achieved quickly and efficiently with a plasma reactor built around a commonly available kitchen microwave oven. It is found here that this microwave plasma pyrolysis (MPP) process converts the mycelium into a "mycodiamond" matrix containing ultrananocrystalline diamond (UNCD) nanostructures with macro-, micro-, and nanoscale features. Verification of the MPP-induced transformation of mycelium into UNCD is confirmed via complementary material analysis techniques including Raman spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Analysis of the myco-diamond surface morphology was performed via scanning electron microscopy. The MPP process represents a scalable and low-cost method of producing UNCD nanomaterials derived from renewable biological sources.

Functional Nanomaterials from Waste and Low‐Value Natural Products: A Technological Approach Level

“…The microwave plasma pyrolysis in argon converted the mycelium into a mycodiamond matrix containing nanostructures formed by ultra‐nanocrystalline diamond. [ 222 ]…”

“…The microwave plasma pyrolysis in argon converted the mycelium into a mycodiamond matrix containing nanostructures formed by ultrananocrystalline diamond. [222] Due to plethora of physical and chemical processes that could be realized in plasma in the presence of water vapors, and also directly in the water treated by plasma (Figure 20), the conversion of water-containing biowaste into advanced nanomaterials can be made to be efficient.…”

Nanofiltration membranes composed of carbonized giant cane and Pongamia meal binder for ion sieving in water and molecular sieving in organic solvents

“…Activated carbon (AC) materials are characterized by their high surface area, significant chemical stability, tunability of the surface and structure, and ease of production. They can be derived from biomass sources such as coconut shells [23], banana peel [24], straw [25], fungal mycelium [26],…”