Diamond surface functionalization with biomimicry – Amine surface tether and thiol moiety for electrochemical sensors

•Diamond surfaces were functionalized with organic molecules using a novel approach.•Used biomimicry to select a molecule to bind NO, similar to the human body.•Molecular orbital theory predicted the molecule-analyte oxidation behavior.•A thiol moiety was attached to an amine surface tether on the diamond surface.•XPS analysis verified each surface functionalization step.