title: The properties and applications of nanodiamonds.
abstract: Nanodiamonds have excellent mechanical and optical properties, high surface areas and tunable surface structures. They are also non-toxic, which makes them well suited to biomedical applications. Here we review the synthesis, structure, properties, surface chemistry and phase transformations of individual nanodiamonds and clusters of nanodiamonds. In particular we discuss the rational control of the mechanical, chemical, electronic and optical properties of nanodiamonds through surface doping, interior doping and the introduction of functional groups. These little gems have a wide range of potential applications in tribology, drug delivery, bioimaging and tissue engineering, and also as protein mimics and a filler material for nanocomposites.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering and A. J. Drexel Nanotechnology Institute, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania                 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Vadym N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Mochalin
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Shenderova
authors.forename: Dean
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Yury
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gogotsi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D054327:Lubricants; D058612:Nanodiamonds / Q000737:chemistry*; D050997:Nanomedicine / Q000379:methods*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
chemical_list: D054327:Lubricants; D058612:Nanodiamonds