Diamond photochemistry with visible light

This project demonstrates diamond-based photochemistry using visible light. Diamond has the unique property of having a widely tunable electrochemical surface, with hydrogen terminated diamond known to have a negative electron affinity. This property enables the emission of electrons from the surfac...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Diamond and related materials 2019-06, Vol.96, p.195-197
Main Authors: Barkl, Jonathon, Zaniewski, Anna M., Koeck, Franz, Nemanich, Robert J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Ammonia
Aqueous solutions
Chemical reactions
Diamond films
Diamonds
Electron affinity
Electrons
Negative electron affinity
Organic chemistry
Photochemistry
Substrates
Thin films
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Summary:This project demonstrates diamond-based photochemistry using visible light. Diamond has the unique property of having a widely tunable electrochemical surface, with hydrogen terminated diamond known to have a negative electron affinity. This property enables the emission of electrons from the surface of the diamond. In this work, electrons are emitted into an aqueous solution, creating a reservoir of free, solvated electrons, that can be used to initiate energy intensive chemical reactions. We demonstrate that visible light incident on thin films of diamond on molybdenum substrates can be used to reduce nitrogen gas to ammonia via the photogenerated electrons. [Display omitted] •Thin films of hydrogen-terminated diamond can modify the effective work function of materials used in photochemistry.•Metal substrates enable the use of below-bandgap photons via metal-assisted absorption.•N2 is reduced to ammonia via visible light photochemistry at room temperature. Future applications include CO2 recycling.
ISSN:0925-9635
1879-0062
DOI:10.1016/j.diamond.2019.05.011