Conducting diamond films in electrochemistry

Summary form only given. Electrically conductive diamond thin films show great promise as electrode materials, particularly in the field of electroanalysis. Some of the basic macroscopic electrochemical properties have been identified, but many aspects of the structure-reactivity relationship at the microscopic and nanoscopic levels is needed in order to understand what factors influence reactivity of these materials. We report herein on the basic electrochemical properties of boron-doped microcrystalline (nominal grain size of 1-5 /spl mu/m) and nitrogen-incorporated nanocrystalline (nominal grain size of 3-10 nm) diamond thin film electrodes, and how these electrodes are useful in electroanalysis. Characterization of these film electrodes by electrochemical methods of analysis, electrogenerated chemiluminescence imaging analysis (ECL) and Raman spectroscopy in the imaging mode is discussed. In addition to discussing the use of these materials in electroanalysis, the author also highlights efforts to fabricate (i) free-standing, optically transparent diamond electrodes for use in spectroelectrochemical measurements and (ii) electrocatalytic electrodes consisting of Pt nanoparticles incorporated into the diamond surface structure.