Trends and advances in the development of nanodiamond-graphene core-shell materials in heterogeneous catalysis

Abstract

Developing innovative catalysts continues to be a pivotal interest within the heterogeneous catalysis area. The carbonaceous material ND@G, featuring a sp²/sp³ hybrid architecture, comprises a nanodiamond (ND) core structure encased within an ultrathin graphitic nanoshell (G), and has been widely exploited as a metal-free catalyst or a support for metal catalyst. Its unique curved zero-dimensional structure/surface and tunable defective surface characteristics endow it with outstanding performance in different heterogeneous catalytic systems. The present review summarized the construction of the diverse types of ND@G and a wide-ranging valorization of structure–activity relation with its catalytic mechanism in various reactions. The recent advancements in the impact of active sites’ architecture and the interaction between metal and support (preventing the as-formed metal species migration and agglomeration based on ND@G) on the catalytic performance of supported metal catalysts are particularly highlighted. The current challenges and outlooks/opportunities confronted by ND@G materials in catalysis are prospected by virtue of its fundamental physicochemical characterizations and potential catalytic estimation. This in-depth analysis seeks to pave the way for effective utilizing the ND@G in catalytic processes. Based on our knowledge, we also identify the challenges along with this area and offer some perspectives on how to overcome them.