Diamond Electrochemistry

Diamond electrodes have attracted great interest in electrochemistry since they offer many advantages over other competitive electrode materials such as glassy carbon. In particular, the high mechanical strength, chemical inertness and biocompatibility of diamond enables its use in hostile conditions or in bio-media which prohibit the use of other electrode materials. A resistance to electrode fouling, low background currents, optical transparency and selective reaction kinetics for particular classes of electrochemical reaction are other important advantages. As a result diamond electrodes are currently being explored for chemical processes such as electrochemical synthesis, and destruction of pollutants, as well as for chemical sensors. The purpose of the present talk will be to describe our work on a range of electrochemical problems using diamond electrodes. Topics to be addressed will include the influence which the nature of the diamond film exerts on the electrochemistry observed, the variations which occur as a result of changes in the surface condition of the diamond electrode, and recent developments in diamond electrochemistry for bio-sensing applications.