Surface modification of diamond powder 5-12 mm was achieved using a water-saturated solution of formaldehyde. The effects of the reaction temperature and time were studied. The diamond surface was characterized by diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform DRIFT spectroscopy. Four chemical structures; epoxyas well as methyl CH 3 and methyne CH bands were identified in the diamond surface after the treatment. The total intensity of the bands increases proportionally by augmenting the treatment time and temperature. The absorbance intensity of all bands correlates linearly. An activation energy of 34.7 kJ mol 1 was obtained, that is in the range of a chemisorption reaction energy. From the results it is concluded that methyl formate HCOOCH 3 was chemisorbed on the diamond surface to a carbon with two unsaturated valences.=Received December 9, 2004; Accepted January 20, 2005?Key-words : Diamond powder, Surface modification, Chemisorption, Formaldehyde solution, Diffuse reflectance infrared fourier transform DRIFT spectroscopy 1. Introduction Diamond is a well-known promising industrial material for different applications because of its properties. The surface condition of diamond strongly affects its chemical and physical properties. Several studies have been focused on diamond powder surface modification. They can be classified into two main groups: modifications in vapor phase 1 -7 and in liquid phase.8 -14 The formers are costly processes for industrial applications because of the special attention needed of reactive gases at high temperatures and highly expensive equipments. Modifications in the liquid phase are more suitable for industrial applications, because the common technology of chemical engineering can be used. Another advantage is that organic substances with organic functional groups can be chemisorbed on a diamond surface and new organic-inorganic functional materials can be developed. For example, a material with the physical properties of diamond hardness, thermal conductivity, large band gap, etc. and the chemical functions of the organic functional groups could be fabricated. According to our knowledge, there have been no reports on modifying diamond surface using a formaldehyde solution and its mechanism. In this paper, we report about the feasibility of modifying the surface of diamond powder by dissolution of formaldehyde in water. The diamond surface after this treatment was characterized by diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform DRIFT spectroscopy. The reaction between the species formed in the dissolution of formaldehyde in water and the diamond powder is also discussed. The treatment was studied at several reaction temperatures and times.