We report first principles calculations on the electronic and structural properties of chemically functionalized adamantane molecules, either in isolated or crystalline forms. Boron and nitrogen functionalized molecules, aza-, tetra-aza-, bora-, and tetra-bora-adamantane, were found to be very stable in terms of energetics, consistent with available experimental data. Additionally, a hypothetical molecular crystal in a zincblende structure, involving the pair tetra-bora-adamantane and tetra-aza-adamantane, was investigated. This molecular crystal presented a direct and large electronic bandgap and a bulk modulus of 20 GPa. The viability of using those functionalized molecules as fundamental building blocks for nanostructure self-assembly is discussed.
@article{arxiv.1204.2884,
title = {Functionalized adamantane: fundamental building blocks for nanostructure self-assembly},
author = {Joelson Cott Garcia and João F. Justo and Wanda V. M. Machado and Lucy V. C. Assali},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1204.2884},
year = {2012}
}