Ultrananocrystalline Diamond-Biomolecular Composites: Towards BioMEMS

The surface functionalization of ultrananocrystalline (UNCD) thin films has been investigated to develop biocomposite materials for use as BioMicroElectroMechanical Systems (BioMEMS). Specifically, hydrophobic, hydrogen-terminated UNCD films have been synthesized using a microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition technique then surface functionalized using a two-step modification procedure. This procedure produces a mixed submonolayer comprised of chloro- and hydroxyl- terminated alkyl chains chemisorbed to the UNCD surface. This surface modification procedure serves to provide functional groups that will allow for the subsequent attachment of a wide variety of biological macromolecules (e.g., proteins, biomembranes) and the ability to tune the hydrophilic nature of the diamond. The resultant materials have been characterized using surface-sensitive spectroscopies (NEXAFS and XPS).