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RAPAPORT... Element Six, a subsidiary of De Beers, engineered DIAFILM EA (electroanalysis grade) in collaboration with The University of Warwick. The free-standing, solid boron-doped microwave chemical vapor deposition (CVD) diamond electrode is expected to transform sensing technologies, allowing the development of next-generation, advanced electroanalysis sensing systems that would benefit the biomedical, environmental, food, pharmaceutical and oil and gas industries. DIAFILM EA benefits from being chemically inert, and stable, overcoming long-term issues in harsh environments such as corrosive, extreme temperature and pressure operations. Element Six stated that in many of the most demanding of electroanalysis applications, DIAFILM EA has the ability to perform thousands of cycles, whereas other electrode materials only survive a single use. This is combined with high phase purity and optimum levels of conductivity, enabling high levels of sensitivity, selectivity and responsiveness. With the introduction of the new DIAFILM EA, Element Six is now actively collaborating with its commercial partners to enhance electrochemical sensing applications to leverage this performance against sensing material. "For the past decade or so, thin-film boron doped diamond electrodes have not delivered on their technical promise, as the industry has struggled to combine the necessary level of conductivity with the required phase purity," said Adrian Wilson, the head of technologies at Element Six. "We have manufactured a grade of boron doped CVD diamond with the ideal optimal conductivity, combined with 100 percent phase purity to meet this market need. Given its unique properties, DIAFILM EA will advance tomorrow's sensing systems." Julie MacPherson, a professor at the University of Warwick, said, "The research and development of synthetic diamond as an electrode material has exposed its potential to transform the future of sensing technologies. Element Six's CVD diamond is an exciting material to work with, and one we've enjoyed working with throughout our six-year research collaboration with the company." The synthetic diamond technical work was completed by a research and development team at Element Six in Ascot in the U.K. during the past 15 years. Electrochemical characterization testing of DIAFILM EA was carried out by the Electrochemistry and Interfaces Group in the Department of Chemistry, at the University of Warwick.
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