Direct functionalization of nanodiamonds with maleimide

Diamond materials span a wide range of attractive physical properties, including large mechanical resistance, high thermal conductivity, and tunable optoelectronic behavior when suitably doped. Down to the nanoscale, embedded diamond nanoparticles find use in surface coatings and nanocomposites and are promising building elements in nanophotonic device engineering. The nature of the solubilizing substituents and specific functional groups appended to the nanodiamond surface defines the function of the nanoparticle and in turn its field of applicability. Synthetic nanodiamonds prepared by detonation protocols, so-called detonation diamond nanoparticles (DDNP), are composed of primary nanocrystals (2-10 nm) and their aggregates. A detailed experimental section can be found in the Supporting Information; the XRD analysis of the GDNP(800) precursor confirmed the integrity of the diamond core upon thermal annealing.