A novel simple and versatile synthetic strategy is developed for the surface modification of boron-doped diamond. In a two-step procedure, polyethyleneimine is adsorbed on the hydrogenated diamond surface and subsequently modified with a model light-harvesting donor-π-bridge-acceptor molecule (coded P1). The sensitized diamond exhibits stable cathodic photocurrents under visible-light illumination in aqueous electrolyte solution with dimethylviologen serving as an electron mediator. In spite of the simplicity of the surface sensitization protocol, the photoelectrochemical performance is similar to or better than that of other sensitized diamond electrodes which were reported in previous studies (2008-2014).

J Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry v v i Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic Dolejskova 3 18223 Prague 8 Czech Republic

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Functionalization of boron-doped diamond with a push-pull chromophore via Sonogashira and CuAAC chemistry