Special Issue "The New Diamond Age?"

Guest Editor
Prof. Dr. Valery Khabashesku
Research Professor, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cullen College of Engineering, University of Houston, 4800 Calhoun Rd., Rm. N42G, Engineering Building 1, Bd. N 579, Houston, TX 77204, USA
Website: http://www.chee.uh.edu/faculty/research_professors/khabashesku/main.html
E-Mail:
Interests: chemistry and spectroscopy of transient molecules containing double and triple pi bonds at group 14 elements (C, Si, Ge, Sn); carbenes; small strained metallacycles; fullerenes; high pressure/high temperature synthesis; degradation chemistry of materials; hydrogen storage materials

Dear Colleagues,

The field of diamond research has been experiencing a rapid progress over the last two decades due to discoveries of chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method for synthesis of polycrystalline diamond thin films and industrial process for producing ultrananocrystalline diamond powder (with 2-20 nm particle size) by detonation of explosives. It was found that besides extreme mechanical and thermophysical properties, the synthetic diamonds also possess unique chemical and photophysical properties such as ability for surface functionalization and, in the case of detonation nanodiamonds, intrinsic bright fluorescence. The chemically surface-modified nanodiamonds are expected to combine the physical properties of diamond crystals and chemical properties of organic functional groups attached to their surface. Functionalization by specific organic groups and biomolecules can improve solubility in common solvents and water, and dispersion in polymers for nanocomposite processing. The tiny detonation diamond nanoparticles are expected to penetrate even the cell nucleus as passive transport into the nucleus is limited to particles of 9 nm or less in diameter. Functionalized fluorescent diamond nanoparticles present an opportunity for cell imaging with relatively little thermal or biochemical perturbations due to the optical transparency and biologically inert nature of diamond. These and other high expectations for application in engineering and biomedical fields continue to drive the current diamond research into a “new diamond age”.

Prof. Dr. Valery N. Khabashesku
Guest Editor

All manuscripts should be submitted to materials@mdpi.org with a copy to the Guest Editor. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. Papers will be published continuously (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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• CVD diamond
• thin films
• detonation nanodiamond
• functionalization
• fluorescent diamond
• nanocomposites
• coatings
• biosensors

Type of Paper: Review
Title: Diamond Solid-State Sensors for Radiation Detection Applications
Authors: N. Govindaraju and R.N. Singh
Affiliation: Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati OH 45221, USA; E-Mails: govindnl@ucmail.uc.edu, singhrn@ucmail.uc.edu
Abstract: The exceptional physical properties of diamond make it uniquely suitable for detecting ultraviolet rays, α-particles, β-rays, x-rays, thermal neutrons and fast neutrons. This article discusses state-of-the-art diamond sensor technology for radiation detection applications. It is shown that diamond is an excellent material for sensing high-energy radiation with high radiation tolerance, temperature stability and chemical inertness. The use of diamond detectors in high-energy physics and nuclear reactor monitoring is presented with a discussion of the different material and device configurations used to date along with their performance. Potential areas for further development are highlighted.

Type of Paper: Review
Title: Nanodiamonds for Biology
Authors: V. Vaijayanthimala^1,2,3 and H.-C. Chang^1,2
Affiliations: ¹ Institute of Atomic & Molecular Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, R.O.C., 106 Taiwan
² Molecular Science and Technology Program, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica, Taipei, R.O.C., 106 Taiwan
³ Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, R.O.C., 300 Taiwan; E-Mail: hcchang@po.iams.sinica.edu.tw
Abstract: Diamond is an allotrope of carbon with remarkable properties. Nanodiamond is the most biocompatible nanoparticle among various carbon-based nanoparticles. The biocompatible nature of nanodiamonds along with their unique features such as surface functionalizability with various biomolecules render them ideal candidate for various biological applications such as drug, gene and protein delivery vehicles etc. In particular, fluorescent nanodiamonds with nitrogen-vacancy defect centers deeply seated within diamond matrices can emit strong and steady photoluminescence. These vital properties make fluorescent nanodiamond as a unique material suitable for bioimaging and cell tracking applications. This review critically examines the biological applications of nanodiamonds and concludes with the future directions and challenges involved in wide use of this outstanding nanoparticle - NANODIAMONDS - in biology.