Electronic Structure and Excited State Dynamics of Pristine and Functionalized Nanodiamonds, Diamondoid Aggregates and Hybrids

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Thomas Möller
• Subject Area: Optics, Quantum Optics and Physics of Atoms, Molecules and Plasmas
• Term: from 2010 to 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 120401550

Diamondoids can be considered as ideal, surface passivated diamond clusters. They are versatile materials because they can be functionalised by chemical as well as physical means and then self-assembled on surfaces. We propose to study changes in the electronic structure and optical properties of pristine and doped diamondoids to control and exploit their luminescence properties in close cooperation with theory groups. A key aspect is the relationship between functional groups, and doping sites on one side, and wavelength and quantum efficiency of fluorescence light on the other side. Further, we plan to prepare diamondoid-metal cluster hybrids and to investigate the electronic response and coupling between the metals and the diamondoids. Functionalised hybrids are expected to be promising candidates for photonic materials such as bright, nanoscale light emitters.

• DFG Programme: Research Units
• Subproject of: FOR 1282: Controlling the Electronic Structure of Semiconductor Nanoparticles by Doping and Hybrid Formation
• Participating Person: Dr. Torbjörn Rander