Sensing Materials: Diamond-Based Materials

This chapter shows how diamond-based materials are used as chemical and physical sensors broadly. We begin presenting a brief history of the diamond throughout the ages, showing how it went from a beautiful accessory to a valuable material with technological applications. A comparison of the fundamental properties and characteristics of the most common allotropes of carbon and diamonds is presented. The classic methods of diamond synthesis such as high pressure-high temperature and chemical vapor deposition are briefly discussed, and the most commonly used techniques to characterize this material are described as well. We demonstrate essential properties and characteristics that make diamonds attractive to be used in developing sensors. As will be shown, this amazing and unique material can be applied in several types of sensors, and here we focused on electrochemical, pressure, gas, radiation, optical, and particle sensors. Finally, we present the tendencies and perspectives about diamond-based sensors.