INVESTIGATING THE GRAPHENE-DIAMOND INTERFACE FOR ELECTRONIC, CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS

Abstract

Motivated by the superlative properties of graphene and diamond, this thesis seeks to observe novel chemistry and physics by interfacing two different carbon phases. Charge transport in graphene is modulated by placing graphene on hydrogen-terminated and oxygen-terminated diamond. To construct a hybrid diamond-graphene electrode, we coupled exfoliated graphene flakes to boron doped diamond (BDD) via molecular wire to enable efficient charge transfer. Chemical hybridization of graphene and diamond (sp2-sp3 carbon carbon interface) by high temperature annealing was carried out to fuse graphene bubbles on diamond, such that strong interfacial bonding and impermeability of graphene enables the construction of a hydrothermal graphene-diamond anvil cell. This anvil cell was exploited as a high pressure reaction vessel for the observation of symmetry forbidden chemical reactions. Finally, owing to the biocompatibility of these carbon materials, they were also explored as biomimetic platforms for cell growth.