Synthesis and characteristic of self-assembled diamond/copper nanocomposites

Nanodiamond (ND) supported metal oxide or metal catalysts exhibit excellent catalytic activity. ND/Cu nanocomposites and Cu nanoparticles were prepared by reducing Cu(NO3)2 in reverses micelle solution. Products were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra, UV–vis optical characteristic and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). From the point of nucleation and grow of crystal, ND contributed to heterogeneous nucleation of Cu nanocrystal. The reactive mechanism was explored based on theory of free energy. The formation of resultant self-assembled structures was explained through diffusion-limited aggregation model and Marangoni effect. Both Cu and ND/Cu nanoparticles were strong catalysts on decomposition of NH4ClO4 (AP), and ND/Cu is more effective.