Carbon Nanomaterials Research Articles (Page 1)

Nanodiamonds (NDs), tetrahedral carbon structures with a size ranging from 1 to 100 nm, have gained growing attention in recent years due to their distinct optical, thermal, and mechanical properties compared to other carbon nanomaterials (e.g., graphene, carbon nanotubes, carbon dots). Combined with a high surface-to-volume ratio and tunable and chemically versatile surfaces, these support broad applications across catalysis, electronics, and life sciences. Moreover, the biocompatible characteristics of NDs enable their controllable interfacial interactions with biological systems, positioning them as excellent candidates for advancing cutting-edge biomedical sciences, particularly through the engineering of efficient material biointerfaces that facilitate optimal interactions with biological systems. Among various forms of NDs, fluorescent nanodiamonds (FNDs) have emerged as some of the most impactful and rapidly advancing materials, demonstrating strong potential in ultrasensitive spin-enhanced bioimaging, high-precision biosensing, traceable drug delivery, and quantum-enabled biomedical technologies. This Review introduces the key principles underlying NDs and FNDs, including their structural properties, synthesis methods, and surface functionalization strategies. It also highlights emerging biomedical applications of NDs and FNDs, with particular emphasis on neurological disorders. Finally, the article discusses current challenges in advancing NDs as a multifunctional platform for neural therapies with translational potential toward clinical trials.

ABSTRACT Basalt fiber (BF) reinforced polymer composites are widely used in military, construction, and marine engineering fields. However, the intrinsic electrical insulation of basalt fiber restricts its use in functional composite materials, particularly in applications such as electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. Laser‐induced graphene (LIG) is a form of three‐dimensional carbon nanomaterial, which could be generated by scribing a laser on carbonaceous precursors. This study utilizes laser‐induced graphene technology to generate graphene directly on the surface of Kevlar fabrics. The LIG‐modified Kevlar fabrics were then stacked with basalt fabrics to fabricate fiber‐reinforced epoxy hybrid laminates. The impact of LIG film insertion on the interlaminar fracture toughness of Kevlar/basalt hybrid laminates was evaluated using double cantilever beam tests. The electromagnetic shielding performance of the hybrid laminates with varying numbers of graphene layers was investigated. Raman spectroscopy confirmed the formation of multilayer graphene on the laser‐etched Kevlar fabrics. The EMI shielding effectiveness of the basalt fiber laminates increased to ~20 dB after three layers of LIG‐modified Kevlar were inserted, and to ~55 dB after seven layers of LIG‐modified Kevlar were inserted, for the X‐band frequency range. Damage localization within the hybrid laminates was achieved by patterning LIG films and monitoring changes in electrical resistance.

While most studies on graphite intercalation compounds (GICs) as hydrogen storage materials use molecular dynamics and first principles approaches, few focus on the detailed hydrogen adsorption characteristics of the intercalators themselves. Usually, intercalators are divided into metals, halogens, and compounds. However, the hydrogen adsorption mechanisms of the common intercalators such as alkali metals Li and Na, halogen elements F, and compounds FeCl3 have not yet been revealed. Therefore, we studied the microscopic interactions between Li, Na, F, FeCl3 intercalators, and H2, including charges, potentials, intermolecular forces, and molecular orbital mixing, using density functional theory (DFT). Our study results show that compared to current hydrogen storage materials like planar graphite, GICs have better hydrogen storage capacity due to their interlayer hydrogen adsorption properties. Each Li, Na, and F atom can adsorb 6 H2, while 8 H2 was adsorbed by the FeCl3 molecule. Using Li and Na atoms as intercalators, GICs adsorb hydrogen through van der Waals forces with adsorption energy values of 0.15eV and 0.16eV, respectively, exhibiting a physical adsorption form. Using F atoms as intercalators, the adsorption energy is similar to alkali metals, and the adsorption form is also similar. However, F atoms gain charge from H2 when adsorbing, which is opposite to the alkali metals losing charge characteristic. Using FeCl3 as an intercalator, GICs have reached a maximum interlayer spacing distance of 9.40Å, with an adsorption energy value of 1.06eV, exhibiting a slight polarisation phenomenon. The adsorption form is a type of physical-chemical adsorption similar to metal dihydrogen complexes caused by Kubas coordination. By comparison, we found that FeCl3 intercalators have the highest hydrogen adsorption energy and demonstrate considerable stability, making them the most promising intercalators for hydrogen adsorption among the four. In addition, compared to the strong chemical adsorption of H2 by transition metals loaded at the boundary of carbon nanomaterials, FeCl3 in the interlayer space evenly adsorbs each H2 through physical-chemical adsorption, which helps to dissociate and release H2. The GIC structure in this study was constructed and optimised using the Dmol3 module based on the GGA-PBE method from the Materials Studio 2020 software package. The hydrogen adsorption system was calculated using the Gaussian 09W software package based on the B3LYP functional with 6-31G * basis set, and metal elements were calculated using the SDD basis set. The charge transfer, electrostatic potential, and independent gradient model based on Hirshfeld partition and density of states are processed using the Multiwfn 3.8 package. All images are rendered using the VMD 1.91 package.

Fullerene molecules, a class of allotropic carbon nanomaterials, were investigated for their potential to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 by targeting its spike glycoprotein through molecular docking simulations. Both blind and targeted docking methods were employed to evaluate interactions between various fullerene sizes (C20, C28, C60, C78, C84) and the spike glycoprotein. In the blind docking method, with the exception of C84, all fullerene interactions are distributed over the entire surface of the spike glycoprotein. In the targeted docking method, C78 and C84 interactions are closer to the actual binding sites of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) on the spike glycoprotein. The most negative binding affinity value was found for fullerene C84, with a value of -15.9 kcal/mol, primarily via hydrophobic interactions. Binding affinity correlated positively with fullerene size; larger fullerenes demonstrated a greater capacity to obstruct the ACE2 binding site. Smaller fullerenes (C20, C28) were ineffective, binding at unrelated regions. C60 showed moderate potential, with 85% of its binding occurring at the ACE2 site. In contrast, C78 and C84 exhibited 100% of their docking directly at the ACE2 binding site, indicating stronger inhibition potential. These findings underscore the significance of fullerene size in enhancing spike protein interaction and suggest that larger fullerenes, especially C84, may serve as promising candidates for SARS-CoV-2 entry inhibition.

Solid-state batteries (SSBs) are poised to become the batteries of the future with advantages such as higher energy density, versatile geometry, and greater safety due to their inherent nonflammability. The most important parameter of the solid-state electrolyte (SSE) used is its ionic conductivity typically calculated from measuring the bulk impedance of a SSE pellet sandwiched between two ion-blocking current collectors. One of the challenges in conducting this measurement is the poor interfacial contacts between the SSE pellet and the current collector surfaces. To overcome this interfacial issue, high stack pressure (>10–100 MPa) is often used. However, this is unrealistic for the operation of practical cells where low or minimal stack pressure (<5 MPa) is more desirable. Thus, ionic conductivity values obtained at high stack pressures may not accurately reflect the true conducting properties under operational conditions. Holey graphene (hG) is a carbon nanomaterial with high electrical conductivity and unique dry compressibility, which is unusual for carbon materials. In this work, it is demonstrated that a thin layer of dry-pressed holey graphene as the current collector for sulfide-based SSE impedance measurements significantly improves the interfacial contact. The ionic conductivity values obtained at low stack pressure conditions were sometimes an order of magnitude higher than the data measured for sulfide SSEs without the hG layers. The use of hG also allows for convenient measurements even using coin cells where a very low internal stack pressure is used. The measurements attained in this work confirm that sulfide SSE ionic conductivity could be at a high level despite the low stack pressure used. This work also calls for more standardized measurement procedures to reduce the discrepancies in reported ionic conductivity values.

Graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) have attracted broad attention for their potential application in nanoelectronics. The electronic properties of the GNRs are closely related to their chemical structure like width, edge, terminating and hetero atoms, etc., and widely applied synthetic methods for the scalable synthesis of specific GNRs with atom-scale precision are urgently required. Here, we found that the stoichiometric and ordered positioning of N and sp3-CH in 8-armchair-GNR ([8]-AGNR) effectively modifies their bandgap in a large range of 0-2.85eV by theoretical calculations. Employing our recent-developed high-pressure topochemical dehydro-Diels-Alder polymerization, three of these [8]-AGNRs were synthesized successfully in their bulk phase starting from crystalline dipyridinyl/dipyrimidinyl butadiynes, with the maximum nitrogen content of 27% in mass. The structures of these GNRs were demonstrated by spectroscopy, diffraction, transmission electron microscope, pair distribution function, and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance methods. UV-vis-NIR diffuse reflectance spectra clearly evidenced the precise tuning of the electronic structures in these N and CH substituted [8]-AGNRs. Our work shows great versatility of this high-pressure topochemical synthetic strategy in synthesizing GNRs with site-specific N and sp3-CH substitutions. This strategy can also be applied to synthesizing more structure-specific carbon nano-materials.

Novel nanocomposites based on carbon black or multi-walled carbon nanotubes functionalized with carboxylic groups and Neutral red electropolymerized from reline were obtained in a one-step protocol and used for DNA biosensor development. The synthesis was carried out in potentiodynamic mode in a deep eutectic solvent reline consisting of a mixture of choline chloride and urea. The nanocomposite based on carbon black and poly(Neutral red) was applied for a voltammetric DNA biosensor developed to discriminate DNA damage. The sensor developed allowed the native, thermally denatured, and chemically oxidized DNA discrimination with either current changes or peak potential shifts. The nature of the DNA used had affected the sensor’s analytical response value. The DNA biosensor suggested was tested for the assessment of antioxidant capacity in such beverages as tea, coffee, white wine, and fruit-based drink purchased from local market. Simple, fast, and inexpensive approach of sensor modifying layer assembly would be demanded in control of food products and beverages quality, as well as for medical purposes.

Carbon nanomaterials have been used in various fields such as agriculture because they have properties that allow them to influence plant growth. This research aims to determine the effect of carbon nanomaterial made from watermelon skin waste as a plant supplement towards the growth of lettuce (Lettuce sativa L.) plants in a hydroponic setting. This research began by making carbon nanomaterial powder, which had been dried using an oven. Then the carbon nanomaterial liquid is heated again using a microwave to obtain a carbon nanomaterial sample in powder form. Carbon nanomaterial samples were characterized using UV-Vis, PSA, and XRD. The carbon nanomaterial solution was compared with a media that only used water. Data collection was carried out by measuring water level, leaf width, plant height, number of leaves, and wet and gross weights of the lettuce plants. The results showed that the carbon nanomaterials can influence the growth and development of lettuce plants. However, carbon nanomaterials only focus on helping plants absorb water and controlling and developing plants’ growth so that they experience more stable growth.

A cucurbituril-based N-doped carbon nanomaterial for efficient detection and removal of Fe(CN)63−

Interface and mechanical properties of 1D and 1D-2D carbon nanomaterials in copper matrix

Salvia miltiorrhiza-derived carbon dots alleviate cadmium stress in flowering Chinese cabbage by suppressing BrTCP9-mediated cadmium transport and reactive oxygen species metabolism.

A flower-like tri-metal MOF coupled with carbon nanomaterials for electrochemical detection of antibiotic Tinidazole

Tackling global water scarcity requires effective desalination with renewable energy. This paper explores direct solar membrane distillation (MD). This technology uses photothermal nanoparticles. These nanoparticles capture sunlight and convert it into heat. This creates a thermal driving force at the membrane surface. This approach improves MD's energy efficiency. It also addresses temperature polarization. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membranes with a PP backing layer were used. These were coated with membranes containing photothermally activated carbon (AC). The AC was integrated into polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and glutaraldehyde (GA). GA acted as a cross-linker. The goal was to maintain water flow after coating. The performance of the PTFE/PVA–AC/GA membranes was tested. A synthetic saline solution was used. Adding hydrophilic PVA–AC improved the membrane's scaling resistance compared to PTFE. Increased PVA loading decreased water flow. The optimized PVA–AC–GA (0.25 wt% + 1 wt% + 1 wt%) membrane exhibited a stable vapor flux of 0.51 kg m−2 h−1 °C−1, which is comparable to the commercial PTFE membrane (0.58 kg m−2 h−1 °C−1), while providing enhanced photothermal activity and anti-wetting stability under simulated solar illumination. The membrane showed promising performance. They suit solar desalination off-grid for fluids prone to scaling.

Carbon-based nanomaterials, with dimensions comparable to biomolecules, offer unique advantages in biomedical applications due to their ability to penetrate cells, interact with tissue microenvironments, and target-specific biomolecules. These materials possess excellent electrical and optical properties, large surface areas, good biocompatibility, low toxicity, and tunable surface functionalities. Representative examples such as graphene, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), carbon quantum dots (CQDs), fullerenes (C60), and nanodiamonds (NDs) have demonstrated significant bioactivity and therapeutic potential. In recent years, these carbon nanomaterials have garnered attention in diabetes management due to their versatility and therapeutic capabilities. They are increasingly used to enhance the sensitivity and stability of glucose sensors, enabling the development of miniaturized, wearable devices for glucose monitoring. Moreover, their modifiable surfaces and drug-loading capacities facilitate targeted delivery and controlled release, which improves therapeutic precision while minimizing side effects. Beyond glucose sensing and drug delivery, specific carbon nanomaterials also exhibit intrinsic antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects, which can aid in treating diabetes-related complications, such as diabetic foot ulcers and chronic wounds. Additionally, they promote tissue regeneration and angiogenesis, which are crucial for effective wound healing. Despite these promising applications, a comprehensive review of their role in diabetes management remains limited. This review aims to summarize the latest advancements in glucose sensing, drug delivery, antioxidation, wound healing, and inflammation control using carbon-based nanomaterials, while highlighting current challenges and outlining future research directions for translating these technologies into clinical applications in diabetes nanomedicine.

The development of radiation-tolerant electronics is indispensable for aerospace, deep-space missions, nuclear power infrastructure, and medical devices, where conventional silicon-based systems suffer severe performance degradation in harsh radiation environments. This review systematically evaluates recent progress in next-generation radiation-tolerant transistors and magnetic memory technologies, particularly emphasis on carbon nanotube field-effect transistors (CNTFETs), two-dimensional material-based FETs (2D-FETs), spin-transfer torque magnetic random-access memory (STT-MRAM), and spin-orbit torque magnetic random-access memory (SOT-MRAM). We analyze their underlying operating mechanisms, notable breakthroughs, radiation tolerance, and scalability potential relative to silicon FETs (Si-FETs) and volatile memory counterparts such as SRAM. For example, the atomic-scale thin channels and robust covalent bonding in CNTFETs and 2D-FETs inherently suppress radiation-induced displacement damage, while spin-based STT-/SOT-MRAM demonstrates intrinsic radiation resistance through magnetism-mediated data storage. Nevertheless, persistent challenges in material deposition, interface optimization, and manufacturing scalability hinder practical implementation. Additionally, monolithic three-dimensional (M3D) integration as a transformative approach has the potential to assemble these emerging technologies into radiation-hardened systems with superior functional density. By enabling vertical stacking of heterogeneous devices and compact interconnects, M3D architectures could overcome traditional scaling bottlenecks while synergizing the radiation tolerance of carbon nanomaterials, 2D semiconductors, and magnetic memory elements. This review outlines a strategic roadmap for next-generation radiation-tolerant electronics, highlighting critical innovations across materials science, device physics, and advanced integration paradigms.

Nitrogenated holey graphene (NHG), a two-dimensional (2D) carbon nanomaterial, demonstrates exceptional electrical, thermal, and chemical characteristics owing to its inherent porosity and nitrogen doping. This study examines the structural and informational properties of NHG by calculating various degree-based topological indices in conjunction with Shannon entropy metrics. Two unique pore geometries–hexagonal, triangular and parallelogram are represented as molecular graphs. To statistically confirm the descriptors, we conduct regression analysis correlating algebraic structure count, resonance energy, and entropy measurements, revealing robust predictive connections. Our findings indicate that pore geometry markedly affects connection patterns, resulting in unique entropy signatures and structural responses. These insights statistically delineate the complexity of NHG and provide a basis for forecasting structure–property interactions, hence facilitating the rational design of NHG-based nanodevices with customised functionality.

Atomistic understanding of structural transformations in nanodiamonds (NDs) is vital for manipulating their physicochemical properties, yet remains limited due to the inherent trade-off between simulation accuracy and scale. Here, we develop a machine learning potential (MLP) with density functional theory accuracy and implement it within the deep potential molecular dynamics framework to enable large-scale simulations of NDs comprising 103-104 atoms over nanosecond timescales. Our simulations reveal that the transformation dynamics are governed by morphology, surface facets, particle size, and temperature. We identify a multistage transformation pathway, sequentially characterized by outward-in graphitization, inward-out atomic migration, and a subsequent self-healing process, driven by surface energy minimization and internal stress relaxation. These results provide atomistic insight into the evolution of NDs and demonstrate the power of MLP-based approaches for modeling complex, multiscale structural transformations in nanocarbon materials.

Introduction Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) are a promising class of zero-dimensional carbon nanomaterials (<10 nm) that can be synthesized from organic precursors. They have attracted intense attentions due to their high water solubility, nontoxicity, excellent biocompatibility, and strong optical properties. Microalgae offer a low-cost, renewable, and eco-friendly source of carbon for CQD synthesis. Their high carbon content, functionalization potential, and biocompatibility make them ideal precursors for producing CQDs with excellent properties and versatile applications. Methods In this study, we explored the synthesis of Euglena gracilis -derived CQDs (E-CQDs) via a one-step hydrothermal green synthesis method and investigated their potential application in bioimaging and antibacterial materials. The synthesized E-CQDs were comprehensively characterized using TEM, XRD, FTIR, XPS, and UV-vis analysis. Results The TEM images showed that E-CQDs had a spherical shape with diameters ranging from 6.5 to 10.5 nm. The XRD patterns indicated that the E-CQDs were crystalline in nature. The FTIR results suggested that E-CQDs were functionalized with C-N and N-H bonds. XPS analysis showed that the E-CQDs were mainly composed of carbon,nitrogen, oxygen and silicon. The UV-vis spectra exhibited a peak at a wavelength of 252 nm, indicating strong absorption in the ultraviolet region. The antibacterial activity test demonstrated that E-CQDs had high inhibitory activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, causing damage to their cell membranes. Additionally, the bioimaging assay indicated E-CQDs possessed the capacity for bioimaging applications in cells, such as Chlorella. Discussion This work presents a green synthesis approach for microalgae-derived CQDs, overcoming some environmental drawbacks of traditional chemical methods. It validates the dual-function paradigm where a single nanomaterial can simultaneously suppress bacterial growth and enable bioimaging.

Past few decades, due to intensive agriculture cultivation, the soils are getting huge amount of chemical-based fertilizers/pesticides, which is directly/indirectly affecting the soil microbiota; especially rhizospheric microbiome. These soil microbes are playing significant role to help plants to uptake nutrient, make unavailable elements to available form, and responsible for decomposition to enhance soil fertility. Soils are not only suffering with agro-chemical inputs, but it also facing various abiotic-abiotic stresses, including heavy metals and emerging contaminates accumulation such as nanoparticles, microplastics, pharmaceuticals and personal care products. The organic matter is continuously decreasing, and soil are losing its fertility and productivity. Due to the population explosion under this climate change era, to achieve the “Zero Hunger” goal in sustainable way is a challenging issue. It is necessary to solve the fundamental tasks that are of frontier importance for soil science today. The recent research developments, and combination of various emerging technologies such as nanotechnology, carbon or biochar materials, genomic, synchrotron, neutron, microbiome and metabolome, and genome editing tools open new avenue to restore soil health via soil engineering; especially rhizospheric microbiome. Thus, our focus on research is to edit soil rhizospheric microbiome and study its responses, determine dynamics, nature and features of interactions in the soil-microbe-plants system. To analysis of the processes occurring in rhizosphere in presence of nanoparticles, nanofertilizers and nanocarbon materials using synchrotron-neutron methods and NBIС (Nano-, Bio-, Information, and Cognitive) technologies to improve the soil fertility, to restore degraded soils, artificial soil system. Analyzed the processes and mechanisms of interphase interactions between the surface of soil particles, plant roots and microbes with the participation of nanoparticles. The structure and functions of the rhizosphere, and the possibilities for optimize its condition is critical to design the artificial ecosystem. Thus, the advanced technologies that is capable to decode the biological and ecological processes, and interactions in rhizosphere system were used such as genomic, synchrotron, neutron tomography methods and computer modeling with microscopic methods. The neutron computed tomography helped to construct a 3D combined image of the rhizosphere structure at the micro-level, whereas, omics technologies characterized the microbiome and metabolome of the rhizosphere.

Purpose This study aims to provide a critical and comprehensive assessment of the latest advancements and remaining challenges in the development of electrochemical potassium ion (K+) sensors for sweat analysis, with particular emphasis on applications in sports performance monitoring and general health assessment. Design/methodology/approach The review systematically explores the physiological relevance of K+ in sweat, its utility in different application contexts (athletic vs clinical) and the underlying principles of potentiometric solid-contact ion-selective electrodes. It evaluates the evolution of solid-contact materials from conducting polymers to carbon nanomaterials and MXenes, alongside fabrication techniques and integration strategies for multiplexed sensing platforms. Furthermore, it identifies technical obstacles – such as signal drift, on-body calibration and lack of clinical validation – and discusses current research directions to address them. Findings Advanced SC materials such as MXenes and carbon nanomaterials significantly improve potential stability and sensing performance compared to traditional conducting polymers. Multiplexed wearable systems that combine K+ sensing with other biomarkers (e.g. Na+, pH and temperature) enable more reliable and contextualized physiological data. However, in spite of progress, challenges such as long-term operational stability, sensor calibration on the body and the absence of a validated correlation between sweat and blood K+ concentrations remain major barriers to clinical translation. Originality/value This review bridges materials science, electrochemical sensing, wearable systems engineering and personalized health care. It uniquely positions sweat K+ monitoring not only as a performance optimization tool for athletes but also as a potential early-warning indicator for physiological imbalances. This study provides an interdisciplinary roadmap towards realizing autonomous, smart and clinically meaningful sweat sensors.