This symposium will provide a forum for comprehensive presentation of recent advances in the fabrication, functionalization and applications of nanodiamonds. Nanodiamonds, carbon nanomaterials in the single digit nanometer domain, continue to grow in relevance due to their unique potential towards a wide range of academic and industrial applications. In particular, a large breadth of research has led to rapid advancements of nanodiamonds in biomedical applications for both drug delivery, imaging and theranostics, with nanodiamonds entering into clinical trials. In addition, the unique photonic or spin properties of fluorescent nanodiamonds allow nanodiamonds to serve as a platform for nanoscale optical detection of magnetic fields, electric field and temperature within a single photon range. Recently, improvements in fabrication, functionalization and detection of fluorescent nanodiamonds have opened the door towards application of nanodiamonds as quantum nanosensors. Recent research on the effects of the shape, color center orientation, and surface functionalization on the optical properties of nanodiamonds is critical for improving their sensitivity as nanosensors. This symposium will discuss how production methods can affect nanodiamond properties, as well as their impact on mass production and commercial use of nanodiamonds. Moreover, nanodiamonds also have additional advantages of uniform shape, hardness, non-porosity and unique surface chemistries that lead to their widespread use as nanofillers for ceramic/polymer composites, microelectronic devices, and surface coatings. This symposium will cover recent investigations into the impact of both monodispersion and polydispersion of nanodiamonds, as well as how specific particle size, shape and surface chemistries control dispersion properties in water and non-aqueous solvents have led to further optimization of nanodiamond performance as nanofillers. This has also sparked development of new applications as catalysts for CO₂ reduction or as supports for metal catalysts. Overall, nanodiamonds are an attractive nanomaterial that can processed towards a wide array of applications. As such, this symposium will continue to be of broad interest to materials scientists, chemists, physicists, and researchers working in diverse areas such as biomedical, energy, and catalysis. Furthermore, this symposium provides an attractive forum for industry to discover and highlight the growing commercial potential of nanodiamonds.

biomedical C crystal crystal growth defects diamond optical properties sensor surface chemistry