Surface electronic structure of detonation nanodiamonds after oxidative treatment

X-ray absorption spectroscopy has been used for comparative study of electronic structure of detonation nanodiamonds (ND) purified using different oxidative treatments. The treatment of detonation soot with a mixture of nitric and sulphuric acids followed by ion exchange and ultrafiltration of hydrosol obtained was found to result in developing of ND surface coverage consisting of oxidized carbon species, which electronic state is close to that of strongly oxidized graphite. The deeper purification of ND was demonstrated to allow cleaning of ND particles from most of the oxidized carbon contaminations. (C) 2007 Published by Elsevier B.V.