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Efficient Photo-Driven Electron Transfer from Amino Group-Decorated Adamantane to Water

Xiangfei Wang, Jonathan Remmert, Beate Paulus and Annika Bande – 2025

Nanodiamonds in water can generate solvated electrons under ultraviolet (UV) excitation, but UV light constitutes only a small portion of solar energy. To harvest solar energy in the visible range, we investigate band gap reduction via surface amino functionalization and examine its impact on photo-excited charge transfer to water. Adamantane, the smallest nanodiamond, is used as a model due to its electron emission properties. Liquid water is first represented using water dimers and then complete solvation shell structures surrounding the adamantane. By systematically analyzing different functionalized adamantane structures, we find that nitrogen serves as the primary electron donor to nearby water molecules. Furthermore, the negative electron affinity of adamantane, which determines its emission capability, is preserved with half of the amino group functionalization on the surface. Our findings motivate further experimental verification using nanodiamonds with amino-functionalized surfaces.

Title
Efficient Photo-Driven Electron Transfer from Amino Group-Decorated Adamantane to Water
Author
Xiangfei Wang, Jonathan Remmert, Beate Paulus and Annika Bande
Date
2025
Identifier
DOI: 10.3390/molecules30163396
Citation
Molecules 2025, 30, 3396.
Type
Text