Steam activation of boron doped diamond electrodes

Abstract

Boron doped diamond (BDD) electrodes were activated in steam at various temperatures, resulting in high quality BDD electrodes with a porous microstructure. Distinct columnar structures were observed by scanning electron microscopy. The electrochemically active surface area of the steam-activated BDD was up to 20 times larger than the pristine BDD electrode owing to the porous texture. In addition, a widening of the potential window was observed after steam activation, suggesting that the quality of BDD was enhanced due to oxidative removal of graphitic impurities during the activation process.

Preferential {100} etching of boron-doped diamond electrodes and diamond particles by CO2 activation

“…A similar phenomenon was also observed in the case of H2O etching of conductive boron-doped diamond (BDD), where steam activation of BDD lead to preferential etching of the {111} planes [13,14]. In addition to O2 and H2O, CO2 is also a common oxidative etchant.…”

“…These studies motivated us to study the CO2 activation of boron-doped diamond. We anticipated that in contrast to the {111} etching observed by steam activation in boron-doped diamond [13,14], CO2 activation may lead to preferential etching of the {100} planes.…”

Enhanced electrochemical oxidation of organic pollutants by boron-doped diamond based on porous titanium

“…Many researchers have focused on the investigation into the construction of porous BDD film electrode, while one approach to produce porous electrode is to etch BDD film by plasma [25], stream activation [26] or thermal treatment [27]. Complex treatments were usually required for above methods, accompanied with poor feasibility in economy and industry.…”

Catalytic etching of synthetic diamond crystallites by iron

“…The modification of the surface morphology of diamonds has been reported by many research groups [14][15][16][17][18][19], Jin el al. focused on the role of the molten metals to etch away the diamond film surface [14,15].…”

“…Like steam-activation for the preparation of activated carbon, the surface of BDD could rigorously be roughened by steam-activation treatment [17]. For patterning of diamond, catalytic etching of diamond in the hydrogen atmosphere through thin solid metal film was studied [18].…”