The electrical conductivity of hydrogenated diamond surfaces was reported in 1989. Whereas the experimental verification of the conductivity is simple, an Ohmmeter is sufficient, a satisfactory explanation of the effect has not been proposed yet. Existing models attempt to explain the effect on the basis of the semiconductor properties of diamond and a water layer adhering to its surface. The central dogma in them is that it is a surface conductivity. Here we show that the conductivity is not restricted to the surface, leaving room for a new understanding of the effect. Our finding not only represents a new paradigm, but provides a platform for the design of smart biomaterials with adjustable biocompatibility, and the production of biosensors and self-sufficient hygrometers for the exploration of water reservoirs on Mars.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.