Journal Article

Fabrication, properties and applications of graphene-diamond hybrids

Zhao, Zhisheng, Liu, Bing, Shen, Bin, Huang, Hui, Lin, Qiang, Chen, Sulin, Sun, Zhengzong, Lu, Yang, Majdi, Saman

2026

Overview

Graphene and diamond are two of the most popular carbon allotropes, each exhibiting a distinct array of remarkable properties. The synergistic integration of graphene, which is electrically conductive and mechanically flexible, with diamond, which is electrically insulative, mechanically hard, and highly thermally conductive, can spark fascinating performance in manifold engineering applications through the formation of graphene-diamond hybrids (GDHs). This paper provides a comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art developments in GDHs, covering aspects from fabrication and fundamental properties to engineering applications. Two classes of GDHs, respectively integrated through van der Waals interaction (V-GDHs) and covalent interfacial C–C bonding (C-GDHs) are introduced, with structural configurations including graphene-on-diamond, diamond-on-graphene, and graphene-diamond composite forms. In this review, current GDH fabrication methods are discussed over their feasibility, GDH quality, controllability as well as energy consumption. The fundamental properties of GDHs encompassing interfacial adhesion, electrical, electron emission, wetting, electrochemical, thermal, optical, mechanical, and tribological fields are introduced. Afterwards, key applications of GDHs in electrical, thermal, electrochemical, mechanical, and biological fields are highlighted. Finally, future research directions such as GDH synthesis mechanism, doped GDHs, high-power electronics, high-performance tools, and other components/devices with extreme functionalities are summarized to promote further research for both scientific and engineering communities.

• Publisher: IOP Publishing
• Subject: Allotropy / carbon / carbon nanostructures / Chemistry with specialization in Materials Chemistry / covalent heterostructures / diamond / Diamonds / Electron emission / Energy consumption / Engineering Science with specialization in Electronics / Engineering Science with specialization in Materials Science / Engineering Science with specialization in Nanotechnology and Functional Materials / Engineering Science with specialization in Solid Mechanics / Engineering Science with specialization in Solid State Physics / Fysik med inriktning mot atom- molekyl- och kondenserande materiens fysik / Graphene / graphene-diamond hybrids / heterostructure fabrication / heterostructures / hybrids / Kemi med inriktning mot materialkemi / Physics with spec. in Atomic, Molecular and Condensed Matter Physics / State-of-the-art reviews / Teknisk fysik med inriktning mot elektronik / Teknisk fysik med inriktning mot fasta tillståndets fysik / Teknisk fysik med inriktning mot hållfasthetslära / Teknisk fysik med inriktning mot materialvetenskap / Teknisk fysik med inriktning mot nanoteknologi och funktionella material / Tribology / van der Waals heterostructures