The ion sensitivity of surface conductive single crystalline diamond

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

Abstract

Charge build-up at the solid/aqueous interface is a ubiquitous phenomenon that determines the properties of interfacial electrical double layers. Due to its unique properties, the surface of diamond offers an attractive platform to investigate charging mechanisms in aqueous solutions. We investigate the surface charge by studying the ion sensitivity of H-terminated single crystalline diamond surface conductive layers. The effect of monovalent and divalent salts has been probed at different pH values. For a pH above 3.5, increasing the ionic strength results in a decrease of the surface conductivity, in contrast to the results obtained for pH below 3.5. Electrokinetic experiments are in good agreement with the surface conductivity measurements, showing an isoelectric point at pH 3.5 for the H-terminated diamond surface. We discuss the results in terms of the Coulombic screening by electrolyte ions of the surface potential, which is induced by a pH-dependent surface charge. The origin of this surface charge is discussed in terms of charge regulation by amphoteric hydroxyl surface groups and unsymmetrical adsorption of hydroxide and hydronium ions induced by the hydrophobic nature of the H-terminated diamond surface. This surface charge can have important consequences for processes governed by the diamond/aqueous interface, such as electron transfer to charged redox molecules, adsorption of charged molecules and proteins, and ion sensitivity.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1287-92
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society
Volume129
Issue number5
Publication statusPublished - 7 Feb 2007
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

Scopus 33846817236
ORCID /0000-0003-0189-3448/work/173985720

Keywords

Research priority areas of TU Dresden

DFG Classification of Subject Areas according to Review Boards

Keywords

  • Adsorption, Computer Simulation, Diamond/chemistry, Electrochemistry, Electron Transport, Hydrogen-Ion Concentration, Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions, Hydroxides/chemistry, Ions, Molecular Conformation, Onium Compounds/chemistry, Osmolar Concentration, Oxidation-Reduction, Proteins/chemistry, Surface Properties, Surface-Active Agents/chemistry, Water/chemistry