Bio-inspired transparent and antibiofouling diamond films via layer-by-layer self-assembly seeding

• Published in: Materials chemistry and physics Vol. 317; p. 129172
• Main Authors: Zhou, Shuangqing, Zhou, Zhiye, Liu, Yuzhi, Liu, Wenquan, Da, Bingtao, Zhao, Ying, Handschuh-Wang, Stephan, Wang, Tao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 15.04.2024
• Subjects: Antimicrobial surface; CVD synthesis; Layer-by-layer seeding; Nanocrystalline diamond film; Nanostructured diamond; Antimicrobial surface; Nanostructured diamond; Layer-by-layer seeding; Nanocrystalline diamond film; CVD synthesis
• ISSN: 0254-0584; 1879-3312
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matchemphys.2024.129172

Bio-inspired diamond nanostructures featuring high transparency and anti-bacterial adhesion were constructed via layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly seeding and chemical vapor deposition growth. The topography of the diamond nanofilms was determined by initial nanodiamond seeds distribution, which was adjusted by nanodiamond colloidal stability. With increasing number of LbL bilayers, the bulge size and roughness of the deposited films increased. With increasing number of bilayers from 1 to 5, UV–Vis transmittance slightly decreased from max. 90 %–83 %, while the contact angle increased from 90° to 130°. All the nanostructured diamond films possess very high IR transmittance between 85% and 90%, which is close to the bare quartz (95%). Compared with conventional flat diamond films, nanostructured diamond films repelled most of the bacteria, suggesting excellent anti-biofouling property. With increasing seeding bilayer number, more bacteria were repelled. The highest bacterial reduction was achieved to 99% by diamond film seeded with 5 bilayers. The bio-mimicking nanostructured diamond film represent a potent solution for achieving highly transparent, anti-biofouling and highly durable optical coatings for biomedical and marine optical instrument. [Display omitted] •Bio-inspired nanostructured diamond films featuring high optical transparency and anti-biofouling.•The diamond films were synthesized via layer by layer (LbL) self-assembly seeding and HFCVD.•In the UV–Vis range, the transparency of coated quartz was 83%–90%.•With increasing number of bilayers from 1 to 5, the water contact angle increased from 90° to 130°.•The highest bacterial reduction was achieved to 99% by diamond films seeded with 5 bilayers.