New directions in structuring and electrochemical applications of boron-doped diamond thin films

Conductive boron-doped diamond electrodes have been shown to be highly suit able as electrochemical detectors in flow injection analysis and high perfo rmance liquid chromatographic analysis, achieving high sensitivity and stab ility for certain species that cannot be detected at other electrodes due t o electrode deactivation or high electrochemical oxidation potential. The u se of this electrode material for the detection of chlorophenols and theoph ylline is demonstrated. Apart from the electrochemistry of diamond, various methods have been developed to fabricate well-aligned nanocylindrical diam ond films and periodic bulb-like structures, which may be useful for sensor s and electronic devices such as field emission displays. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.