Fabrication Process Independent And Robust Aggregation Of Detonation Nanodiamonds In Aqueous Media

Author

Inga C. Kuschnerus
Haotian Wen
Xinrui Zeng
Yee Yee Khine
Juanfang Ruan
Chun Jen Su
U. Ser Jeng
Hugues A. Girard
Jean Charles Arnault
Eiji Ōsawa
Olga Shenderova
Vadym Mochalin, Missouri University of Science and TechnologyFollow
Ming Liu
Masahiro Nishikawa

Abstract

In the past detonation nanodiamonds (DNDs), sized 3–5 nm, have been praised for their colloidal stability in aqueous media, thereby attracting vast interest in a wide range of applications including nanomedicine. More recent studies have challenged the consensus that DNDs are monodispersed after their fabrication process, with their aggregate formation dynamics poorly understood. Here we reveal that DNDs in aqueous solution, regardless of their post-synthesis de-agglomeration and purification methods, exhibit hierarchical aggregation structures consisting of chain-like and cluster aggregate morphologies. With a novel characterization approach combining machine learning with direct cryo-transmission electron microscopy and with X-ray scattering and vibrational spectroscopy, we show that their aggregate morphologies of chain and cluster ratios and the corresponding size and fractal dimension distributions vary with the post-synthesis treatment methods. In particular DNDs with positive ζ-potential form to a hierarchical structure that assembles aggregates into large networks. DNDs purified with the gas phase annealing and oxidation tend to have more chain-like aggregates. Our findings provide important contribution in understanding the DND interparticle interactions to control the size, polydispersity and aggregation of DNDs for their desired applications.

Recommended Citation

I. C. Kuschnerus and H. Wen and X. Zeng and Y. Y. Khine and J. Ruan and C. J. Su and U. S. Jeng and H. A. Girard and J. C. Arnault and E. Ōsawa and O. Shenderova and V. Mochalin and M. Liu and M. Nishikawa, "Fabrication Process Independent And Robust Aggregation Of Detonation Nanodiamonds In Aqueous Media," Diamond and Related Materials, vol. 139, article no. 110199, Elsevier, Nov 2023.

The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.diamond.2023.110199

Department(s)

Chemistry

Publication Status

Open Access

Comments

Australian Research Council, Grant 1R15EY029813-01A1

Keywords and Phrases

Cryo-TEM; Machine learning; Nanodiamonds; SAXS

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0925-9635

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2023 Elsevier, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Nov 2023