Photochemical functionalization of diamond films

We report a new scheme for attachment of functionalized organic molecules to polycrystalline diamond films. In this scheme, ultraviolet light is used to cause a local reaction between a hydrogen-terminated diamond surface and organic molecules present as a thin overlayer liquid film. Comparison of functionalized alkenes and alkanes shows that alkenes attach more efficiently. By attaching organic molecules with suitable protecting groups and then deprotecting after attachment to the surface, it is possible to prepare diamond surfaces terminated with carboxylic acid groups or with primary amine groups. These functional groups may serve as an attractive starting point for further chemical modification of diamond surfaces.