Diamond sensors for extreme environments

钻石作为宝石被浪费了；它实际上是一种宽带隙半导体，与硅等传统材料相比，它具有许多优越的电子性能。就体积而言，它是惰性的，但表面可以进行表面化学功能化以调整其性能。它显示出比其他材料更大的“电化学窗口”——在不需要的水氧化还原反应发生之前可以承受的电压。再加上它的机械、声学、光学和热性能，它是在极端环境中实现气体和液体物种主动传感器的独特材料。石油工业依赖于一系列“井下”传感器，特别是用于测井的传感器。油井下的高压、高温和腐蚀性化学环境使得大多数材料不适合用作传感器——金刚石正被积极寻求作为解决这一问题的方法。该博士课程将涉及开发用于金刚石的新型化学和光学传感方法。金刚石表面功能化和随后的电化学可能贯穿整个过程。半导体“洁净室”处理技术将用于制造用于后续评估的测试设备。

Diamond is wasted as a gemstone; it is actually a wide band-gap semiconductor withmany superior electronic properties to conventional materials such as silicon. It ischemically inert in terms of the bulk, but the surface can be surface chemicallyfunctionalized to adjust its properties. It shows a greater "electrochemical window"- the voltage that can be supported before unwanted aqueous redox reactions set in- than other materials. Add its mechanical, acoustic, optical and thermal properties,it is a unique material for the realization of active sensors for gaseous and liquidspecies in extreme environments. The oil industry relies on a range of 'down-well'sensors particularly for well logging use. High pressures, temperatures andaggressive chemical environments down an oil well make most materials unsuitablefor use as sensors - diamond is being actively pursued as a solution to this problem.This PhD programme will involve the development of novel chemical and opticalsensing approaches to be implemented with diamond. Diamond surfacefunctionalization and subsequent electrochemistry is likely to feature throughout.Semiconductor 'clean-room' processing technologies will be used to fabricate testdevices for subsequent evaluation.