Diamond used to produce graphene quantum dots and nanoribbons

Vikas Berry, William H. Honstead Professor of Chemical Engineering at Kansas State University, has developed a novel process that uses a diamond knife to cleave graphite into graphite nanoblocks, which are precursors for graphene quantum dots. These nano-blocks are then exfoliated to produce ultra-small sheets of carbon atoms of controlled shape and size. Controlling the size and shape has been a long-sought-out goal for the revolution of electronics and optoelectronics. By controlling the shape and size, researchers can control graphene's properties over a wide range for varied applications. The applications of these quantum dots can be used for solar cells, electronics, optical dyes, biomarkers, composites and particulate systems. Graphene quantum dot research will continue to evolve since the material has great potential for various nanotechnology fields.