Probing the ¹³C nuclear spin relaxation of diamond nanoparticles with solid-state NMR

Diamond nanoparticles represent an elegant class of nanoscale materials with promising applications in nanotechnology. Solid-state NMR is a powerful technique for investigating the atomic-level structure and dynamics of nanomaterials in their natural state. The present study illustrates the application of high-resolution ¹³C NMR to nanomaterials characterization, and the fundamental ¹³C spin–lattice relaxation times highlight the spatial arrangement of surface-associated paramagnetic centers around the core sp³ carbon assembly of diamond nanoparticles, delineating the unique size-dependent physicochemical characteristics of diamond nanoparticles. Graphical abstract: (Figure presented.)