DNA-sensing with nano-textured diamond electrodes

Texturing of a smooth diamond surface by use of nano-diamond particles as a hard mask and by use of reactive ion etching for 10 s results in the fabrication of vertically aligned diamond nano-wires with 3-10 nm length and a typically 11 nm spacing in between. The surface structure, electronic properties, and electrochemicall functionalization of diamond nano-wires were characterized by atomic force (AFM) and electrochemical techniques. The data showed that tip modified diamond nano-wires are promising for the detection of DNA hybridization.