Webb, Jennifer R. (2015) Exploiting the properties of diamond for biosensing applications : electrochemical and computational approaches to biomolecule detection. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

Diamond exhibits many exceptional chemical, mechanical and electrical properties that make it ideally suited for use in biosensing devices. Insulating diamond offers an ideal platform in pore biosensing devices due to its robustness, biocompatibility, chemical inertness, and low dielectric constant (high signal to noise ratios). When doped with boron atoms to induce conductivity, boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes have unique electrochemical properties including a wide potential window, low background currents and reduced fouling. The ability for diamond to be easily modified between stable hydrophobic (H-terminated) and hydrophilic (O-terminated) surface functionalisation is particularly attractive as it enables the diamond surface to be tailored for specificity and selectivity in biosensing applications.

Work in this thesis aims to investigate, through the use of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and electrochemical techniques, how the properties of diamond can be exploited in order to realise its full potential in electrochemical and pore biosensing technologies. MD simulations are employed to achieve a fundamental understanding of processes at the diamond-solution interface. In particular, the influence of the different crystal orientations and surface terminations of diamond on the structure and dynamics of biomolecules (water, ions, neurotransmitters, phospholipids) is investigated. Electrochemical techniques are used to probe the effect of surface termination and boron dopant concentration on the response of species in order to optimise electrochemical biosensing devices. In addition, the fabrication and sensing capability of a novel single crystal diamond pore device is presented.

Item Type:	Thesis or Dissertation (PhD)
Subjects:	Q Science > QD Chemistry
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Biosensors, Diamonds -- Properties, Biomolecules
Official Date:	2015
Dates:	Date Event 2015 Submitted
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	Molecular Organisation and Assembly in Cells
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	Macpherson, Julie V. ; Notman, Rebecca ; Newton, Mark
Extent:	xxix, 335 leaves : illustrations (some colour), charts
Language:	eng

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