Advanced Diamond Technologies, Inc.

John Crane Inc.

Hongjun Zeng

John Arthur Carlisle

Ian Wakefield Wylie

Prabhu U Arumugam

Nicolaie A Moldovan

Donato M Ceres

John Wagner

A durable composite diamond electrode is disclosed which comprise at least a relatively thicker conductive UNCD (Ultrananocrystalline Diamond) layer, with low deposition cost, on a substrate underlying a relatively thinner conductive MCD (Microcrystalline Diamond) layer. The electrode exhibits long life and superior delamination resistance under extremely stressed electrochemical oxidation conditions. It is hypothesized that this improvement in electrode reliability is due to a combination of stress relief by the composite film with the slightly 'softer' underlying UNCD 'root' layer and the electrochemically durable overlying MCD &#x201c;shield&#x201d; layer, an effective disruption mechanism of the fracture propagation between the compositing layers, and thermal expansion coefficient match between the diamond layers and the substrate. The diamond composite electrode can be applied to any electrochemical application requiring extreme voltages/current densities, extreme reliability or biomedical inertness such as electrochemical systems to generate ozone, hydroxyl radicals, or biomedical electrode applications.

Extreme durability composite diamond electrodes

An electrolytic ozone generator includes an anode with a longitudinal edge, a cathode with a longitudinal edge spaced apart from the cathode, and an isolator. The isolator electrically separates the cathode from the anode and is semi-impermeable. The anode and cathode are impermeable for generating ozone in a flow area fluidly coupling longitudinal edges of the anode and the cathode. Ozone water apparatus, methods of making electrolytic ozone generators, and methods of generating ozone using electrolytic ozone generators are also described.

Ozone generators, methods of making ozone generators, and methods of generating ozone

A method for forming diamond nanostructures with large specific area can include forming porous diamond nanostructures by means of selectively etching sp-bonded carbon and partially removing sp-bonded carbon in nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) and ultrananocrystalline diamond (UNCD&#xae; diamond). The diamond nanostructures achieved from the disclosed method can include a long shaft surrounded by a school of barbs. The nanostructure can provide a significantly larger surface area than diamond without such a nanostructure and its fabrication provides relative ease of manufacture compared to traditional techniques.

Diamond nanostructures with large surface area and method of producing the same

A novel composite diamond film comprising of a relatively thick layer of UNCD (Ultrananocrystalline Diamond) with a Young's modulus of less than 900 GPa and a relatively thin MCD (microcrystalline diamond) outermost layer with a Young's modulus of greater than 900 GPa, has been shown to exhibit superior delamination resistance under extreme shear stress. It is hypothesized that this improvement is due to a combination of stress relief by the composite film with a slightly 'softer' UNCD layer, a disruption of the fracture mechanism through the composite layer(s), and the near ideal chemical and thermal expansion coefficient match between the two diamond layers. The combination of a thick but 'softer' underlying UNCD layer with a thin but harder overlying MCD layer provides an excellent compromise between the low deposition cost and smoothness of UNCD with the extreme hardness and unparalleled chemical, electrochemical and immunological inertness of even a thin layer of MCD. The MCD layer's roughness is minimized and its adhesion maximized by the use of a thin layer of MCD and its deposition on the smooth surface of the chemically nearly identical underlying UNCD layer. The composite film can be applied to any application currently utilizing a diamond or a similar hard film, including cutting tools, abrasive surfaces, electrochemistry, biomedical applications such as human implants or thermally conductive films and the like, requiring superior durability, chemical resistance and/or immunological inertness.

Extreme durability composite diamond film

An electrochemical system and method are disclosed for On Site Generation (OSG) of oxidants, such as free available chlorine, mixed oxidants and persulfate. Operation at high current density, using at least a diamond anode, provides for higher current efficiency, extended lifetime operation, and improved cost efficiency. High current density operation, in either a single pass or recycle mode, provides for rapid generation of oxidants, with high current efficiency, which potentially allows for more compact systems. Beneficially, operation in reverse polarity for a short cleaning cycle manages scaling, provides for improved efficiency and electrode lifetime and allows for use of impure feedstocks without requiring water softeners. Systems have application for generation of chlorine or other oxidants, including mixed oxidants providing high disinfection rate per unit of oxidant, e.g. for water treatment to remove microorganisms or for degradation of organics in industrial waste water.

Growing community of inventors

Naperville, IL, United States of America

Hongjun Zeng