Fluorinated nanodiamond (F-ND) was prepared by annealing ND in fluorine gas. The fluorine gas was periodically fed to ensure uniform exposure of every diamond nanoparticle in homogenous reactive ambience. The characteristics of the F-ND particles were investigated by the following methods: Fourier-transform infrared absorption spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. The results showed that the fluorine atoms were chemically adsorbed on the surface of the ND particles and consequently formed C-F bonds. Fluorine of 6.4 wt.% was detected on the F-ND surface. The aggregated ND particles were disintegrated by the fluorination and the size of aggregated ND was reduced from approximately several hundred nanometers to about 40 nm. The stability of the F-ND suspension in distilled water or ethanol was higher than that of the pristine ND suspension. The anodic electrophoretic deposition of the F-ND particles was derived using ethanol suspension, indicating that the F-ND particles were negatively charged. (C) 2011 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.