Synthesis, Properties and Applications of Ultrananocrystalline Diamond: Proceedings of the NATO ARW on Synthesis, Properties and Applications of ... 10 June 2004.: 192 (Nato Science Series II:) - Tapa blanda

We are pleased to present the Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop "Syntheses, Properties and Applications of Ultrananocrystalline Diamond" which was held June 7-10, 2004 in St. Petersburg, Russia. The main goal of the Workshop was to provide a forum for the intensive exchange of opinions between scientists from Russia and NATO countries in order to give additional impetus to the development of the science and applications of a new carbon nanostructure, called ultrananocrystalline diamond (UNCD) composed of 2-5 nm crystallites. There are two forms of UNCD, dispersed particles and films. The two communities of researchers working on these two forms of UNCD have hitherto lacked a common forum in which to explore areas of scientific and technological overlap. As a consequence, the two fields have up to now developed independently of each other. The time had clearly come to remedy this situation in order to be able to take full advantage of the enormous potential for societal benefits to be derived from exploiting the synergistic relationships between UNCD dispersed particulates and UNCD films. The NATO sponsored ARW therefore occurred in a very timely manner and was successful in beginning the desired dialogue, a precondition for making progress toward the above stated goal. The discovery of UNCD completes a triadof nanostructured carbonswhich includes fullerenes and nanotubes.

Ultrananocrystalline diamond (UNCD) is one of the important members of the triad of nanostructured carbons, which includes fullerenes and nanotubes. UNCD with characteristic sizes of primary particles less than 10 nm occurs in two forms: as a dispersed powder made by detonation techniques and as a chemical vapor deposited film. This book for the first time combines results of research pursued by the two communities of scientists, which up to now, have been working rather independently and largely unaware of the vast synergistic relationships existing between them. It is particularly noteworthy that much of the Russian work on disperse UNCD is available here in English for the first time. The outstanding experts in the two fields are represented in this volume discussing the basic theoretical concepts underlying the synthesis and characterization of these nanomaterials and describing progress that has been made in several areas of applications such as nanocomposites, selective adsorbents, colloidal suspensions, microabrasives, lubricants, quantum dots, cold-cathodes for UNCD particles and MEMS, biosensors, electrochemical, and nerve prostheses, high temperature, highly rectifying diodes, FET's, thermoelectrics for UNCD films. This Proceedings volume will be of interest to a wide audience of scientists and engineers and serve as an introduction to an important and rapidly evolving field of nanoscience and nanomaterials; as a text for a special topics graduate course; or as a starting point for those interested in the development of new approaches to problems that have hitherto defied solution for lack of suitable materials.