Abstract
A novel diamond transparent electrode is constructed by integrating conductive diamond film and transparent conducting metal oxide to combine the superior electrochemical properties of diamond and the electrical conductivity of transparent metal oxide (TCO). Direct growth of diamond on indium tin oxide (ITO) and aluminium doped zinc oxide (AZO) was explored, but X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurement reveals that both substrates cannot survive from the aggressive environment of diamond growth even if the latter is regarded as one of the most stable TCO. As a second route, a diamond membrane in silicon frame was prepared by selective chemical etching, and a diamond optically transparent electrode (OTE) was constructed by assembling the diamond membrane on the top of an ITO-coated substrate. The resulting device exhibits a high optical transparency and quasireversible electrochemical kinetics, which are competitive to other diamond OTEs reported previously. Its application in UV-Vis spectroelectrochemical studies on the oxidisation of 4-aminophenol was demonstrated.
Highlights
The development of optically transparent electrodes (OTEs) for electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical studies has received considerable attention for investigation of electrochemical reaction mechanism and electroanalytical applications [1]
To achieve a good transparency as well as an improved electrical conductivity, we report a novel approach to fabricate diamond OTEs by integrating diamond thin film with a more conductive transparent substrate, such as indium tin oxide (ITO) and aluminium doped zinc oxide (AZO)
Since the first route of directly diamond deposition was undermined by the stability of ITO and AZO substrate, we explored an alternative method to circumvent the problem by preparing silicon frame-supported diamond membrane separately followed by integrating diamond membrane with an ITO conducting substrate to fabricate the OTE device
Summary
The development of optically transparent electrodes (OTEs) for electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical studies has received considerable attention for investigation of electrochemical reaction mechanism and electroanalytical applications [1]. To achieve a good transparency as well as an improved electrical conductivity, we report a novel approach to fabricate diamond OTEs by integrating diamond thin film with a more conductive transparent substrate, such as indium tin oxide (ITO) and aluminium doped zinc oxide (AZO). Two approaches were explored to fabricate this hybrid OTE, direct CVD deposition of BDD film on top of ITO or AZO thin films, or integration of a framesupported diamond membrane with an ITO electrode The feasibility of the former method was explored by investigating the chemical stability of ITO and AZO film in harsh diamond growth conditions. The device from the latter route was characterised by spectroscopic, optical, and electrochemical measurements, and its application in UV-Vis spectroelectrochemical studies on 4-aminophenol was demonstrated
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