Andrew Taylor

I have over 34 years’ experience working in the field of diamond research, 18 years of which were at De Beers Technologies, UK. Whilst at De Beers I was a key part of the team investigating the properties of single crystal CVD grown diamond. At FZU I helped establish and coordinate laboratories within the Materials for Nanosystems and Biointerfaces group for the growth of diamond layers using MW PECVD technologies. My focus has been placed on the understanding of the growth of different types of diamond layers using conventional and novel microwave plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (MW PECVD) techniques, and characterization of these layers. Initial focus was placed on the development of high frequency pulsed linear antenna MW PECVD of nano-crystalline diamond layers over large areas and a range of temperatures. This technique was further developed for the growth of electrically conductive boron doped nano-crystalline diamond layers at low temperatures, and later further optimized for fabrication of highly conductive, large area boron doped nano-crystalline diamond layers, as well as fabrication of novel diamond/silicon carbide composites. Additionally, I contributed to the development of fabrication techniques for porous diamond layers, opening their use in the electrochemical and bio-sensing fields. Throughout the development of the MW PECVD processes, I have cooperated with other research teams and colleagues for investigation of the application of diamond layers in various fields, including protective layers in nuclear industry, anodes for water oxidation, biosensing and recording of neuron chemical and electrical activity.