Ultra-thin nanocrystalline diamond membranes as pressure sensors for harsh environments

Glass and diamond are suitable materials for harsh environments. Here, a procedure for fabricating ultra-thin nanocrystalline diamond membranes on glass, acting as an electrically insulating substrate, is presented. In order to investigate the pressure sensing properties of such membranes, a circular, highly conductive boron-doped nanocrystalline diamond membrane with a resistivity of 38 m Omega cm, a thickness of 150 nm, and a diameter of 555 mu m is fabricated in the middle of a Hall bar structure. During the application of a positive differential pressure under the membrane (0-0.7 bar), four point piezoresistive effect measurements are performed. From these measurements, it can be concluded that the resistance response of the membrane, as a function of differential pressure, is highly linear and sensitive. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.