Abstract: A method for forming a diamond product. Diamond material is provided and a damage layer comprising sp2 bonded carbon is formed in the material. The presence of the damage layer defines a first diamond layer above and in contact with the damage layer and a second diamond layer below and in contact with the damage layer. The damage layer is electrochemically etched to separate it from the first layer, wherein the electrochemical etching is performed in a solution containing ions, the solution having an electrical conductivity of at least 500 ?S cm?1, and wherein the ions are capable of forming radicals during electrolysis. The diamond product is also described.

Abstract: An electrode comprising synthetic high-pressure high-temperature diamond material, the diamond material comprising a substitutional boron concentration of between 1×1020 and 5×1021 atoms/cm3 and a nitrogen concentration of no more than 1019 atoms/cm3. The electrode has a ?E3/4-1/4 as measured with respect to a saturated calomel reference electrode in an aqueous solution containing 0.1 M KNO3 and 1 mM of Ru(NH3)63+ selected any of less than 70 mV, less than 68 mV, less than 66 mV, and less than 64 mV, and/or a peak to peak separation ?Ep as measured with respect to a saturated calomel reference electrode in an aqueous solution containing 0.1 M KNO3 and 1 mM of Ru(NH3)63+ selected any of less than 70 mV, less than 68 mV, less than 66 mV, and less than 64 mV.

Abstract: An electrochemical sensor comprising a boron doped diamond electrode formed of boron doped diamond material, an array of non-diamond carbon sites disposed on a sensing surface of the boron doped diamond electrode, electrochemically active non-diamond carbon surface groups bonded to the non-diamond carbon sites for generating a first redox peak at a first potential associated with dissolved oxygen and a second redox peak at a second potential which changes with pH, the first and second redox peaks being separated such that they do not overlap, an electrical controller configured to scan the boron doped diamond electrode over a potential range to generate at least said first redox peak, and a processor configured to give an electrochemical reading based on one or both of a position and an intensity of said first redox peak.

Abstract: An electrochemical sensor comprising: a boron doped diamond electrode formed of boron doped diamond material; an array of non-diamond carbon sites disposed on a sensing surface of the boron doped diamond electrode; electrochemically active surface groups bonded to the non-diamond carbon sites for generating a redox peak associated with a target species which reacts with the electrochemically active surface groups bonded to the non-diamond carbon sites when a solution containing the target species is disposed in contact with the sensing surface in use; an electrical controller configured to scan the boron doped diamond electrode over a potential range to generate said redox peak; and a processor configured to give an electrochemical reading based on one or both of a position and an intensity of said redox peak.

Abstract: An embodiment provides a device for measuring pH in an aqueous sample, including: at least one measurement electrode comprising a first carbon region, wherein the carbon region comprises a single pH sensitive carbon region, wherein the single pH sensitive carbon region of the measurement electrode is a sp2 carbon region of a boron doped diamond-based pH electrode; at least one reference electrode; at least one auxiliary electrode; and a memory storing instructions executable by a processor to identify a pH of an aqueous sample by measuring an electrical potential between the at least one measurement electrode and the at least one reference electrode. Other aspects are described and claimed.

Abstract: An electrochemical sensor comprising a boron doped diamond electrode formed of boron doped diamond material, an array of non-diamond carbon sites disposed on a sensing surface of the boron doped diamond electrode, electrochemically active non-diamond carbon surface groups bonded to the non-diamond carbon sites for generating a first redox peak at a first potential associated with dissolved oxygen and a second redox peak at a second potential which changes with pH, the first and second redox peaks being separated such that they do not overlap, an electrical controller configured to scan the boron doped diamond electrode over a potential range to generate at least said first redox peak, and a processor configured to give an electrochemical reading based on one or both of a position and an intensity of said first redox peak.

Abstract: A boron doped synthetic diamond material which has the following characteristics: a solvent window meeting one or both of the following criteria as measured by sweeping a potential of the boron doped synthetic diamond material with respect to a saturated calomel reference electrode in a solution containing only deionized water and 0.1M KNO3 as a supporting electrolyte at pH 6: the solvent window extends over a potential range of at least 4.1 V wherein end points of the potential range for the solvent window are defined when anodic and cathodic current density measured at the boron doped synthetic diamond material reaches 38 mA cm?2; and the solvent window extends over a potential range of at least 3.3 V wherein end points of the potential range for the solvent window are defined when anodic and cathodic current density measured at the boron doped synthetic diamond material reaches 0.

Abstract: An electrochemical sensor comprising: a boron doped diamond electrode formed of boron doped diamond material; an array of non-diamond carbon sites disposed on a sensing surface of the boron doped diamond electrode; electrochemically active surface groups bonded to the non-diamond carbon sites for generating a redox peak associated with a target species which reacts with the electrochemically active surface groups bonded to the non-diamond carbon sites when a solution containing the target species is disposed in contact with the sensing surface in use; an electrical controller configured to scan the boron doped diamond electrode over a potential range to generate said redox peak; and a processor configured to give an electrochemical reading based on one or both of a position and an intensity of said redox peak.

Abstract: A sensor comprising: a first electrode formed of an electrically conductive material and configured to be located in contact which a solution to be analysed; a second electrode configured to be in electrical contact with the solution to be analysed; an electrical controller configured to apply a potential difference between the first and second electrodes to electro-deposit chemical species from the solution onto the first electrode, and an x-ray fluorescence spectrometer configured to perform an x-ray fluorescence spectroscopic analysis technique on the electro-deposited chemical species, the x-ray fluorescence spectrometer comprising an x-ray source configured to direct an x-ray excitation beam to the electro-deposited chemical species on the first electrode and an x-ray detector configured to receive x-rays emitted from the electro-deposited chemical species and generate spectroscopic data about the chemical species electro-deposited on the first electrode, wherein the sensor is configured such that in use

Abstract: an x-ray fluorescence spectrometer (52); and a sample holder (2) for the x-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer (52), wherein the sample holder (2) comprises: an electrically conductive synthetic diamond electrode (4) providing a front surface (6) on which chemical species can be electro-deposited from a solution (48) comprising the chemical species; an ohmic contact (8) disposed on a rear surface of the electrically conductive synthetic diamond electrode (4); and an electrical connector (10) which is connected to the ohmic contact (8), and wherein the x-ray fluorescence spectrometer (52) comprises: an XRF sample stage (58) configured to receive the sample holder (2); an x-ray source (54) configured to apply an x-ray excitation beam to the chemical species electro-deposited on the electrically conductive synthetic diamond electrode (4) when the sample holder (2) is mounted to the XRF sample stage (58); an x-ray detector (60) configured to receive x-rays emitted from the chemical species electro-deposited on t

Abstract: A method of analyzing chemical species in a solution, the method comprising: providing an electrochemical deposition apparatus comprising a first electrode (2) formed of an electrically conductive diamond material and a second electrode (4); locating the first electrode in contact with a solution (8) to be analyzed and the second electrode in electrical contact with the solution to be analyzed; applying a potential difference between the first and second electrodes (2, 4) such that current flows between the first and second electrodes through the solution to be analyzed and chemical species are electro-deposited from the solution onto the first electrode; applying a spectroscopic analysis technique to the electro-deposited chemical species (M1, M2, M3) on the first electrode to generate spectroscopic data about the electro-deposited chemical species on the first electrode; and using the spectroscopic data to determine the type of chemical species electro-deposited on the first electrode.

Abstract: An electrochemical sensor comprising: a reference electrode (4) formed of an electrically conductive synthetic doped diamond material and configured to be located in electrical contact with a solution (8) to be analysed; a sensing electrode (2) formed of an electrically conductive synthetic doped diamond material and configured to be located in contact with the solution (8) to be analysed; an electrical controller (10) configured to conduct stripping voltammetric measurements by applying a voltage to the sensing electrode (2), to change the applied voltage relative to the reference electrode (4), and to measure an electric current flowing through the sensing electrode (2) thereby generating voltammetry data; and a calibration system configured to provide an in-situ calibration for providing a reference point in the voltammetric data since the potential of the diamond reference electrode is non fixed and floating.

Abstract: A boron doped synthetic diamond material which has the following characteristics: a solvent window meeting one or both of the following criteria as measured by sweeping a potential of the boron doped synthetic diamond material with respect to a saturated calomel reference electrode in a solution containing only deionised water and 0.1 M KNO3 as a supporting electrolyte at pH 6: the solvent window extends over a potential range of at least 4.1 V wherein end points of the potential range for the solvent window are defined when anodic and cathodic current density measured at the boron doped synthetic diamond material reaches 38 mA cm?2; and the solvent window extends over a potential range of at least 3.3 V wherein end points of the potential range for the solvent window are defined when anodic and cathodic current density measured at the boron doped synthetic diamond material reaches 0.

Abstract: Microelectrode comprising a body formed from electrically non-conducting material and including at least one region of electrically conducting material and at least one passage extending through the body of non-conducting material and the region of conducting material, the electrically conducting region presenting an area of electrically conducting material to a fluid flowing through the passage in use. An electrochemical cell which includes such a microelectrode is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to electrodes for electrochemical analysis comprising: —an insulating surface; —carbon nanotubes situated on the insulating surface at a density of at least 0.1 ?mCNT Um?2; and —an electrically conducting material in electrical contact with the carbon nanotubes; wherein the carbon nanotubes cover an area of no more than about 5.0% of the insulating surface. Methods of making such electrodes and assay devices or kits with such electrodes, are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to electrodes for electrochemical analysis comprising: —an insulating surface; —carbon nanotubes situated on the insulating surface at a density of at least 0.1 ?mCNT Um?2; and —an electrically conducting material in electrical contact with the carbon nanotubes; wherein the carbon nanotubes cover an area of no more than about 5.0% of the insulating surface. Methods of making such electrodes and assay devices or kits with such electrodes, are also provided.

Abstract: A method of analysing chemical species in a solution, the method comprising: providing an electrochemical deposition apparatus comprising a first electrode (2) formed of an electrically conductive diamond material and a second electrode (4); locating the first electrode in contact with a solution (8) to be analysed and the second electrode in electrical contact with the solution to be analysed; applying a potential difference between the first and second electrodes (2, 4) such that current flows between the first and second electrodes through the solution to be analysed and chemical species are electro-deposited from the solution onto the first electrode; applying a spectroscopic analysis technique to the electro-deposited chemical species (M1, M2, M3) on the first electrode to generate spectroscopic data about the electro-deposited chemical species on the first electrode; and using the spectroscopic data to determine the type of chemical species electro-deposited on the first electrode.

Abstract: An electrochemical sensor comprising: a reference electrode (4) formed of an electrically conductive synthetic doped diamond material and configured to be located in electrical contact with a solution (8) to be analysed; a sensing electrode (2) formed of an electrically conductive synthetic doped diamond material and configured to be located in contact with the solution (8) to be analysed; an electrical controller (10) configured to conduct stripping voltammetric measurements by applying a voltage to the sensing electrode (2), to change the applied voltage relative to the reference electrode (4), and to measure an electric current flowing through the sensing electrode (2) thereby generating voltammetry data; and a calibration system configured to provide an in-situ calibration for providing a reference point in the voltammetric data since the potential of the diamond reference electrode is non fixed and floating.

Abstract: A diamond based electrochemical band sensor comprising: a diamond body; and a plurality of boron doped diamond band electrodes disposed within the diamond body, wherein at least a portion of each of the plurality of boron doped diamond band electrodes is doped with boron to a level suitable to achieve metallic conduction, the boron doped diamond electrodes being spaced apart by non-conductive intrinsic layers of diamond, wherein the diamond body comprises a front sensing surface with the plurality of boron doped diamond band electrodes being exposed at said sensing surface and extending in an elongate manner across said surface, and wherein each boron doped diamond electrode has a length/width ratio of at least 10 at the front sensing surface.

Abstract: Microelectrode comprising a body formed from electrically non-conducting material and including at least one region of electrically conducting material and at least one passage extending through the body of non-conducting material and the region of conducting material, the electrically conducting region presenting an area of electrically conducting material to a fluid flowing through the passage in use. An electrochemical cell which includes such a microelectrode is also disclosed.