Impact of Tungsten Doping on the Physicochemical Properties of Boron-Doped Diamond Electrodes

• Published in: Surfaces and interfaces Vol. 73; p. 107485
• Main Authors: Xia, Jiaqi, Zhang, Shulong, Zhu, Ying, He, Mingzhu, Li, Shanming, Chen, Guangzhu, Cai, Shuang, Zhao, Chengchun, Hang, Yin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 15.09.2025
• Subjects: Band structure; Boron-doped diamond; Electrochemical properties; Photoluminescence; Tungsten co-doping; Band structure; Electrochemical properties; Tungsten co-doping; Boron-doped diamond; Photoluminescence
• ISSN: 2468-0230
• DOI: 10.1016/j.surfin.2025.107485

Boron-doped diamond (BDD) exhibits excellent physical and chemical characteristics particularly as electrode materials, making it a subject of extensive research. HFCVD is a crucial method for fabricating BDD electrodes, during which tungsten (W) impurities are inevitably incorporated. However, previous studies have overlooked the influence of W on BDD electrodes. To address this noteworthy gap, we prepared W co-doped BDD electrodes (WBDD) with varying W concentrations and evaluated their physical and electrochemical characteristics. Compared to BDD electrodes, W doping was found to restrain the electron transfer rate within the internal redox system ([Fe(CN)6]3-/4-), while strengthening the rate in the external redox system ([Ru(NH3)6]3+/2+). Based on surface characterization and electrochemical data, these distinct behaviors are likely explained by the modifications in surface properties and charge carrier density induced by W co-doping. Furthermore, we observed the photoluminescence emission peak of W in diamond for the first time and calculated the electronic structural characteristics of WBDD by first principles, elucidating the potential states of W within the diamond matrix. Overall, our study demonstrates that W impurities exert a significant influence on BDD electrodes, providing fresh perspectives for the design of advanced electrode materials and advancing the research on diamond color centers. [Display omitted]