Microwave induced carboxylation of nanodiamonds

Microwave-assisted chemical functionalization of detonation nanodiamonds (NDs) is reported for the first time. The diamond core is not a microwave absorber, and consequently NDs required relatively long reaction times. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the successful grafting of carboxylic group on the NDs surface while X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed that the NDs core was unaffected by microwave treatment. The carboxylation led to altered colloidal behavior in terms of reduced in agglomeration in both aqueous and polar organic solvents, which was accompanied by increased solubility.

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► Microwave-assisted method for functionalization of nanodiamonds (NDs) is presented.
► Functionalized NDs formed stable dispersion in aqueous as well as organic solvents.
► Solubility and stability are improved by functionalization.
► Carboxylic NDs could be used for further functionalization via diverse synthetic routes.