Structural and voltammetric studies at boron-doped diamond electrode grown on carbon felt produced from different temperatures

Diamond formation was studied on carbon felts (CF) substrates produced from an organic polymer, polyacrylonitrile (PAN), at different heat treatment temperatures (HTT). Knowledge and control of CF structural properties have demonstrated to be very important for growing boron-doped diamond (BDD) films on such substrates. During the deposition, fiber etching and diamond nucleation occur simultaneously and compete kinetically. In addition, these processes may also be affected by the HTT of the carbon fiber precursor. BDD/CF electrodes were produced by Hot Filament Chemical Vapor Deposition (HFCVD) and characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) techniques. It also discussed the HTT influence on substrate structural properties correlated with diamond film growth and its electrochemical response. CF substrates were carburized in the temperatures of 1300, 1800 and 2300 K and presented respective increases in their conductivity values. CV measurements in ferri-ferrocyanide system have confirmed the superior properties of BDD/CF electrodes and showed evidence of a large surface area increase, which makes them appropriate to be used as porous electrode in different electrochemical applications. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.