Nanodiamonds are one of the most advanced carbon materials in the world.
Diamonds are renowned for their superlative physical qualities such as the highest hardness on earth, superior thermal conductivity to any bulk material, and the high refractive index and abbe number. Nanodiamonds are not only small-sized diamonds with the above features but they also could generate other functions owing to their nano size, various functional groups, high dispersibility, ζ potential, and amorphous carbon.

The structure of nanodiamonds consists of a diamond core and amorphous carbon layers. In more complex terms, each particle of nanodiamonds has sp³ bonded carbon atoms covered by sp². The most unique feature of nanodiamonds is the existence of various oxygenic functional groups on the surface, thus nanodiamonds have ζ potential in water.
The ζ potential disperses nanodiamonds uniformly and stably in water. Daicel also achieved dispersal of nanodiamonds in various organic solvents such as IPA, THF, MIBK, and Toluene by modifying surface chemicals on nanodiamonds.

Nanodiamonds are produced by a detonation method and the diamonds synthesized are extremely tiny particles with average diameter between 4~6nm. The particles are almost spherical (precisely, polyhedron) unlike abrasive diamonds for lapping, horning and polishing. Because of the size and the shape, a specific surface area of a nanodiamond particle is over 300m²/g.

Nanodiamonds can be used in unique applications compared to other nano materials such as nano-silica, graphene, carbon nanotubes, fullerenes, and carbon nanohorns.
Potential applications of nanodiamonds are break-in additives for lubricants, antioxidants, grain refining agent, bio imaging, drug delivery, diamond sensors, and others. Each function of nanodiamonds in the applications is remarkably unique.

Nanodiamonds can be a game-changing material of the future for those applications, with many products, and potential uses.

There are various oxygenic functional groups on the nanodiamond surface. The main ones are carboxyl, hydroxyl, ketone, and ether. The total number of oxygenic functional groups on a nanodiamond reaches into the hundreds.

The oxygenic functional groups have a high affinity for water and polar organic solvents. On the other hand, they don't have any affinity for oil or nonpolar solvents. Nanodiamonds agglomerate immediately in such media.

Daicel can offer solutions to the problem. Surface chemistries are controllable because of Daicel's organic chemical technology, which makes it possible to realize a rich selection of organic solvent dispersions of nanodiamonds.

The line-up of nanodiamonds will be beneficial to users who hope to mix, disperse in raw materials such as plastics, oils, rubber, metal and others.

The nanodiamond particle is remarkably small, 4~6nm(four to six billionths of one meter).
The particle size is 20 times smaller than a virus. It is invisible to the naked eye.
A nanodiamond is the smallest diamond but an authentic one.

One of the greatest properties of nanomaterials is their specific surface area.
Nanodiamonds have far larger surface areas than larger diamonds of equal mass.
When mono-dispersed nanodiamonds are used for applications where it is important to have contact with surrounding materials and create vast interfaces, functions can be maximized.

Application as Antioxidants

Daicel offers eight different types of nanodiamond samples to worldwide researchers. DINNOVARE has cluster NDs and seven different types of solvent dispersions such as ζnegative NDs in water, ζ positive NDs in water, Water-soluble modified NDs in water, and 4 organic solvent dispersions (THF, IPA, MIBK, toluene).

The unique nano-carbon material could be used for various applications, e.g. additives for lubricants, antioxidants, grain refining agent for plating, polishing slurries, bio imaging, drug delivery, and diamond sensors.

For those who are interested in finding new applications of nanodiamonds aside from those mentioned, free DINNOVARE samples are available by giving feedback of outcomes to Daicel.