A practical guide to using boron doped diamond in electrochemical research

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science
• Diamond Technology

Background:

• Boron-doped diamond (BDD) is a semiconductor with semi-metallic characteristics, offering a wide solvent window, low currents, and resistance to harsh conditions.
• BDD's electrochemical performance is highly sensitive to its growth and treatment, leading to variability in experimental results.
• Interdisciplinary input is crucial for understanding and optimizing BDD for electrochemical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To serve as a reference for researchers starting with diamond electrodes.
• To guide the characterization of BDD material properties before electrochemical measurements.
• To explain the relationship between BDD characteristics and electrochemical data interpretation.

Main Methods:

• Characterization of electrode material properties.
• Analysis of boron dopant density, non-diamond-carbon content, and grain morphology.
• Assessment of surface chemistry and its impact on redox couples.

Main Results:

• Variability in BDD material properties significantly impacts electrochemical measurements.
• Understanding the interplay between material characteristics and electrochemical response is key.
• Standardized characterization aids in comparing data across different BDD electrodes.

Conclusions:

• This protocol article provides essential guidance for researchers using BDD electrodes.
• It facilitates meaningful comparisons of electrochemical data obtained with different diamond electrodes.
• It aids in selecting the appropriate BDD form for specific research applications.