Structural properties of diamond nanowires: Theoretical predictions and experimental progress

Although the nanoscience and nanotechnology surrounding sp² bonded carbon nanotubes has continued to flourish over recent years the development of the sp³ analogue, diamond nanowires, has been slow. Diamond-based materials have unique structural properties such as high elastic modulus and strength-to-weight ratio, making them ideal candidates for structural applications at the nanoscale. While few experimentalists have succeeded in synthesizing such materials, a number of researchers have used various theoretical models to compare the structure and stability of diamond nanowires as a function of morphology and size. In this review a summary of these theoretical predictions is given along with the progress made by experimentalists in the synthesis of quasi-one dimensional diamond nanostructures.