Diamond electrodes as carbon materials: Development of electrochemical applications

Boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes have attracted significant attention as carbon-based electrode materials due to their unique electrochemical properties, including a wide potential window, low background current, and excellent chemical stability. These characteristics enable precise control of electrochemical reactions and highly sensitive detection in aqueous environments. The fundamental properties of diamond electrodes are described from the viewpoint of carbon materials, and their applications in electrochemical sensing, including the detection of free chlorine and heavy metals, are then discussed, highlighting the transition from fundamental studies to practical devices. Recent progress in bioelectrochemical applications using BDD microelectrodes is also introduced, with particular emphasis on the real-time monitoring of neurotransmitters and in vivo pharmacokinetic profiling of drugs. The use of BDD electrodes in environmental purification and electrochemical organic synthesis is also presented. Finally, electrochemical CO2 reduction using BDD electrodes is described, including recent advances in flow-cell systems and its scale-up for practical applications. These studies demonstrate the versatility and potential of boron-doped diamond electrodes as functional carbon materials for a wide range of electrochemical technologies.