| Feb 10, 2026 |
Graphene and diamond, both carbon, can be combined into hybrids that merge flexibility, conductivity, and hardness for extreme electronics and mechanical applications.
(Nanowerk News) Graphene and diamond sit at opposite ends of the materials spectrum, yet they are made from the same element. One is a single layer of carbon atoms that bends easily and carries electrical current with little resistance. The other is among the hardest materials known, prized for its strength, chemical stability and ability to conduct heat. For years, engineers have wondered whether it might be possible to combine the best of both worlds.
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A new review by researchers at Shanghai Jiao Tong University now lays out how far that idea has come. In the International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing (“Fabrication, properties and applications of graphene-diamond hybrids”), the team surveys the growing field of graphene–diamond hybrids, materials that physically or chemically link the two carbon forms to create performance combinations that neither can achieve alone.
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The appeal is clear. Modern technologies increasingly operate under extreme conditions, from high-power electronics that generate intense heat to cutting tools that face enormous mechanical stress. Graphene excels electrically but degrades under heavy loads. Diamond thrives mechanically and thermally but is difficult to integrate into electronic systems. A hybrid that joins the two could overcome the limits of each.
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| This schematic illustrates the two fundamental types of graphene-diamond hybrids: van der Waals hybrids (V-GDHs) with weak interfacial bonding and covalent hybrids (C-GDHs) with strong carbon–carbon bonding, showing their distinct structural configurations. (Image: Reproduced from DOI:10.1088/2631-7990/ae3348, CC BY)
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“The way graphene and diamond are connected determines everything,” says Prof. Bin Shen, a professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University who led the review. “Weakly bonded interfaces are good for electronics, while strongly bonded ones are essential for mechanical and thermal applications.”
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The researchers group graphene-diamond hybrids into two broad families. In van der Waals hybrids, graphene rests on diamond through weak physical forces. These materials are easier to fabricate and have already shown promise in electronic devices, sensors and low-friction coatings. In covalent hybrids, graphene and diamond are chemically bonded through strong carbon–carbon links. These materials are harder to make but far more robust.
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Recent advances in fabrication have expanded what is possible. New catalytic techniques allow graphene to grow directly from diamond surfaces, forming stable bonds without demanding perfect crystal alignment. One particularly promising approach uses liquid gallium to trigger the controlled transformation of diamond into vertically oriented graphene sheets, firmly anchored to the underlying diamond. This process works on many forms of diamond, from single crystals to powders, making it attractive for manufacturing.
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These advances have translated into striking performance. Some graphene-diamond hybrids conduct heat across their interfaces better than almost any other known material pair. Others carry electrical currents far beyond what conventional semiconductors can tolerate. In machining tests, diamond tools coated with covalently bonded graphene layers show significantly reduced wear and cutting forces, even when working with difficult alloys.
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Yet the review makes clear that major challenges remain. Producing large-area hybrids with consistent quality is still difficult, especially for covalently bonded structures that often require high temperatures or pressures. Many fundamental properties, including thermal and electrical behaviour under real operating conditions, remain poorly measured. And despite promising demonstrations, most applications are still confined to the laboratory.
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Prof. Shen argues that the next phase of research must focus on understanding how graphene and diamond grow together atom by atom, and on developing fabrication methods that are faster, cleaner and easier to scale. They also point to opportunities in tailoring these hybrids for specific roles, such as extreme heat dissipation in power electronics, ultra-durable cutting tools, or highly sensitive electrochemical devices.
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Graphene-diamond hybrids are still young materials, and their full capabilities are only beginning to emerge. By adjusting how the two forms of carbon are joined, engineers can tune a single material system for very different tasks. As manufacturing pushes further into extreme environments, this ability to design materials from the interface up may prove as valuable as the materials themselves.
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