Construction and Characterization of Superhydrophobic Nanodiamond and cBN Surfaces

This proposal aims to construct and characterize the superhydrophobic diamond and cubic boron nitride (cBN) surfaces. Diamond and cBN are the hardest and the second hardest materials in the world. The outstanding properties of diamond and cBN make them potential materials in applications in the fields of electronic, microelectromechanical devices, electrochemical and biomedical sensors, and antiwear hard coatings. The development of diamond and cBN coatings with superhydrophobic surfaces will further extend their application potentials.Based on the extensive experience of the applicants in the synthesis of high-quality diamond and cBN films by chemical vapor deposition, and a new technology developed by us which enables the nanostructuring of superhard and extremely chemical inert materials such as diamond and cBN films, the project will focus on the realization of superhydrophobic properties of nanodiamond and cBN surfaces via two approaches: i) structuring nanodiamond and cBN film surfaces to controlled 3-D nanostructures using reactive ion etching (RIE); and ii) functionalizing nanodiamond and cBN films with selected organic molecules. The mechanical and superhydrophobic performance of the nanostructured and/or functionalized coatings will be evaluated.