Beyond the shine: recent progress in applications of nanodiamond

In the past few years a variety of new fields for the use of nanoscale diamond have emerged. In this report newly developed applications such as the use of nanodiamond in composites or for catalytic, electrochemical and biomedical purposes are discussed. Furthermore, nanodiamond can be used as a sensitive and stable luminescent label when suitable lattice defects are present in the nanoparticles. Those defects are also the basis for magnetic and quantum applications of this carbon material.