Boron diamond doped electro applied to the electroanalyses of inorganics species in the enviroment control

• Grant number: 11/16561-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: April 01, 2012
• End date: March 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Maurício Ribeiro Baldan
• Grantee: Diego Henrique de Lima Souza
• Host Institution: Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE). Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação (Brasil). São José dos Campos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In this project is proposed to study nanocrystalline diamond films and nanocrystalline diamond films doped with boron in order to study the surface from the activation and functionalization by using different pre-treatments such as physical, chemical, electrochemical (anodic and cathodic), thermal (plasma hydrogen and oxygen) and chemical. These pre-treatments are critically important to achieve a controlled surface condition and specific to the use of these films in different procedures electroanalysis. Thus, pre-treatments should be performed in order to activate or functionalize the surface with the goal of achieving reliable analysis, reproducible and sensitive concerning the substances of interest. For this study, nanocrystalline diamond films not doped (NCD) and doped with boron (BDD) will be obtained by HFCVD technique ("Hot Filament Chemical Vapor Deposition") and intends to apply the experimental conditions already optimized by our group. The films will be characterized regarding their morphology, structure and electrochemical techniques using scanning electron microscopy and atomic force spectroscopy, scattering, x-ray diffraction, high-resolution electrochemical measurements of cyclic voltammetry and, finally, measures of wettability (hydrophobicity) and surface energy. The reproducibility and sensitivity of the films after surface modification with the physical-chemical treatments applied will be evaluated by electrochemical techniques such as cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance. This project aims to use these electrodes in electroanalysis of inorganic species in environmental control such as nitrite, nitrate or phosphate. It would be advisable to extend these studies for boron-doped microcrystalline diamond but this study will only be made possible if there is time for this purpose.