Synthesis, electronic structure, and optical properties of diamond clusters - diamondoids

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Diamondoids can be considered a new form of ideal diamond clusters in the (sub-)nanometer size regime. Only since recently they have become available in limited sizes and quantities through extraction from natural gas resources. Diamondoids offer unique scientific opportunities. Because they can be isomer selected and selectively modified, fundamental investigations about size, shape, and doping effects in neutral nanoparticles with atomic precision are now becoming possible. We aim to overcome current experimental limitations and investigate the electronic and optical properties of diamondoids. We will develop a new gas-phase based route for the synthesis of larger diamondoids and their doping as well as optimized spectroscopy tools. This way we will be able to determine the electronic structure and optical properties of pristine and doped isomer-selected diamondoids, gaining a detailed understanding of size and shape effects in clusters as well as doping on the nanoscale. The envisioned experiments will yield important answers to some of the central questions in nanosciences of the coming years.