Structural and electrochemical heterogeneities of boron-doped diamond surfaces

This brief review is focussed on the recent progress in studies of the heterogeneous electrochemical behaviour of various boron-doped materials extending from zero-dimensional particles through polycrystalline or nanostructured three-dimensional surfaces. A boron-doped diamond reveals large heterogeneities induced by numerous factors, inter alia multi-faceted crystallinity, inhomogeneous boron concentration, sp²/sp³-carbon ratio, surface terminations and grain size distribution. We also present single nanodiamond particles and a nanostructured diamond, which are fabricated by either a top-down or a bottom-up procedure. Nanoarchitectured surfaces allow high areas and large aspect ratios to be achieved, exhibiting highly heterogeneous charge-transfer performance for catalytic, sensing and energy applications. We have anticipated multi-factor-originated heterogeneities of various boron-doped diamond surfaces displaying the essential fabrication and diagnostic methodologies and critically reviewing their benefits and drawbacks.