Molecular Surface Functionalization of Carbon Materials via Radical-Induced Grafting of Terminal Alkenes.

Formation of functional monolayers on surfaces of carbon materials is inherently difficult because of the high bond strength of carbon and because common pathways such as S2 mechanisms cannot take place at surfaces of solid materials. Here, we show that the radical initiators can selectively abstract H atoms from H-terminated carbon surfaces, initiating regioselective grafting of terminal alkenes to surfaces of diamond, glassy carbon, and polymeric carbon dots. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) demonstrate formation of self-terminating organic monolayers linked via the terminal C atom of 1-alkenes.

Solid-State NMR Identification of Intermolecular Interactions in Amelogenin Bound to Hydroxyapatite.

Biomineralization processes govern the formation of hierarchical hard tissues such as bone and teeth in living organisms, and mimicking these processes could lead to the design of new materials with specialized properties. However, such advances require structural characterization of the proteins guiding biomineral formation to understand and mimic their impact. In their "active" form, biomineralization proteins are bound to a solid surface, severely limiting our ability to use many conventional structure characterization techniques.