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SPM probe-assisted surface nanostructuring of boron-doped diamond

MetadataDetails
Publication Date2016-01-01
JournalNanotechnologies in Russia
AuthorsE.V. Zavedeev, V. D. Frolov, P. A. Pivovarov, Victor Ralchenko, V. Yu. Yurov
InstitutionsProkhorov General Physics Institute, National Research Nuclear University MEPhI
Citations1

Surface modification of conductive boron-doped diamond has been conducted using the electrical field of the probe of a scanning probe microscope (SPM) at varying relative humidity (RH) of the ambient environment. It has been found that, under the action of positive polarity pulses applied to the sample via a grounded SPM probe, the sample material undergoes modification. The modification pattern depends on atmospheric RH: low (up to 32%) and high humidity values (above 35%) lead to the formation of cavities and protrusions, respectively. It has been found that the resulting protrusions exhibit temporary instability; that is, a protrusion is partially transformed into an array of nanoobjects. The mechanism of modification of boron-doped diamond-local anodic oxidation-has been discussed.