Nanotechnology of diamondoids for the fabrication of nanostructured systems

Abstract

Diamondoids are cage-like hydrocarbon materials with unique characteristics such as low dielectric constants, negative electron affinity, large steric bulk, and electron-donating ability. They are widely used for advanced functional materials in nanocomposite science. Surface modification of diamondoids also produces functional derivatives that broaden its applications. This article provides a concise review of the fundamentals of diamondoids, including their origin and functionalization, electronic structure, optical properties, and vibrational characteristics. The recent advances of diamondoids and their derivatives in applications, such as nanocomposites and thin film coatings, are presented. The fabrication of diamondoid-based nanostructured devices, including electron emitters, catalyst sensors, and light-emitting diodes, are also reviewed. Finally, the future developments of this unique class of hydrocarbon materials in producing a novel nanostructure system using advanced nanotechnologies are discussed. This review is intended to provide a basic understanding of diamondoid properties, discuss the recent progress of its modifications and functionalization, and highlight its novel applications and future prospects.

Torsional fracture of carbon nanotube bundles: a reactive molecular dynamics study

“…The shape of this diamondoid structure is similar to other diamondoid cores reported in the literature. 21,22 This morphological transformation reveals a relevant result once it suggests a new synthesis route for converting nanotubes into diamonds.…”

“…Recently, several experimental 21–26 and theoretical 18,27–38 studies have investigated the mechanical properties of carbon nanotube bundles (CNTBs) in the form of long yarns, 23,34 nanofibers, 28 nanoropes, 27,32 and crystals. 18,36 Usually, torsional and tensile loadings are applied to analyze the behavior of these materials upon stress.…”

Polymorphism and solid–solid phase transitions of hydrogen bonded 2-adamantanol and 2-methyl-2-adamantanol compounds

“…In addition, diamondoid molecules, building blocks forming supramolecular architectures and cage-like saturated ringed hydrocarbons formed by a number of six-member carbon rings fused together (adamantane being the simplest diamondoid molecule) are of paramount importance for many applications, due to their exceptional hardness and stiffness, chemical resistance, thermal stability, unique optical properties, and an outstanding biocompatibility. 25 Applications spread from surface functionalization, 26 nanotechnology, 27 growth of large cavities organic crystals, 28 multiple biological, 29 pharmaceutical applications 30 and energy. 31…”

Hyperfine Interactions in the NV-13C Quantum Registers in Diamond Grown from the Azaadamantane Seed

“…Larger diamondoids contain multiple H-terminated adamantanelike diamond cages. The chemistry of diamondoids has been studied very extensively (see, e.g., [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ]) and numerous derivatives may be formed chemically either by changing the surface termination and/or substituting carbon atoms with other elements to get the heterodiamondoids [ 23 , 24 ], in particular the azaadamantane C 9 H 15 N [ 25 ], which itself is obtained from ordinary adamantine by replacing one of the carbon atoms with nitrogen atom, and which is of primary interest here as the seed for diamond growth.…”