Patterning of nanodiamond tracks and nanocrystalline diamond films using a micropipette for additive direct-write processing

The ability to pattern the seeding of nanodiamonds (NDs), and thus selectively control areas of diamond growth, is a useful capability for many applications, including photonics, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) prototyping, and biomaterial design. A microprinting technique using a computer-driven micropipette has been developed to deposit patterns of ND monolayers from an unreactive water/glycerol ND ink to 5-μm resolution. The concentration and composition of the ND solution were optimized to realize high-density monolayers of NDs and consistent ND printing. Subsequent nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) patterns grown using chemical vapor deposition showed a high level of compliance with the printed ND pattern. This “direct-write”, bottom-up, and additive process offers a versatile and simple alternative to pattern diamond. The process has the particular advantage that it does not require lithography or destructive processing such as reactive-ion etching (RIE) and, pertinently, does not involve reactive...