Diamane: A new Frontier in materials science – DIAMAT

Single-layer diamond (‘diamane’) has emerged as a new and exciting 2D allotrope of carbon due to its physical novelty and technological implication for energy devices, nano-optics and nano-electronics. However, there is a significant knowledge gap in the study of diamane – its preparation is still in infancy with many diamane(-like) nanostructures predicted possible but have not been made experimentally. This project aims to develop a chemical route to prepare new diamane(-like) materials including fluorinated diamane (‘F-diamane’) and diamane-like cubic boron nitride (c-BN), and to understand the phase transformation and structure–property correlations. On one hand, this project leverages a novel ‘top-down’ strategy for the preparation of F-diamane from graphite fluoride with (C2F)n structural type and, on the other hand, by fluorination of nanostructured precursor in order to achieve exclusive sp3 hybridization. This second route will be extended to BN chemistry targeting a new class of sp3-bonded nanostructures. The physico-chemical properties of F-diamane type manaterials will be then investigated. A consortium will be constituted in order to bring together essential and complementary expertise in carbon and 2D materials and fluorine chemistry to address this exciting and consequential challenge. This project seizes a perfectly timed opportunity to drive a step-change in materials science. The conceptual framework is sound, being based on the investigatory team’s latest research achievements regarding the synthesis of F-diamane. Collectively, the team have more than 20 years of experience at the forefront of research in the field of the fluorine chemistry applied to carbon materials.