Nanodiamond Synthesis from Coal via Flash Joule Heating

作者：Mingjin Du, Yi Cheng, Tianyou Xie, Zhiliang Yang, Xi Shen, Karla Silva, Chao Ma, Channa Wang, Xiangbo Liu, Haiming Wang, Xiangdong Ding, Chengming Li, James M. Tour, Changsheng Xiang · 发表于：ACS Nano · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1021/acsnano.5c07134 · 被引用次数：4 · 研究领域：Diamond and Carbon-based Materials Research、Fiber-reinforced polymer composites、Graphene research and applications

As the coal industry transitions toward cleaner production, it demands advanced coal utilization strategies. Converting low-value coal into high-value nanodiamonds (NDs) is a promising approach. NDs exhibit exceptional properties with broad potential applications. NDs are typically synthesized from high-purity graphite, whereas coal serves as a lower-cost alternative. However, existing coal-based NDs (C-NDs) are synthesized in low purity and low efficiency, restricting their applicability and scalability. To address these challenges, a fluorine (F)-assisted flash Joule heating (FJH) method is developed using coke as a feedstock to synthesize C-NDs within 1 s. After post-treatment, C-NDs achieve ∼ 100% purity with an 8% yield and exhibit thermal stability comparable to commercial NDs. Theoretical calculations indicate that F atoms induce electronic rearrangement and promote the formation of interlayer C-C bonds. The application of C-NDs as seed crystals was demonstrated to produce a high-quality diamond film. Life cycle assessment (LCA) shows that C-NDs perform better than the high-pressure high-temperature (HPHT) method in cost, carbon emissions, water consumption, and electricity usage. Given their economic and environmental benefits, a coal-to-diamond production system is proposed that may contribute to cleaner coal utilization and the advancement of the coal industry.