Diamond based atomic oxygen sensor for space applications

Diamond is a combustible material like graphite and amorphous carbon. Amorphous carbon is currently used as an atomic oxygen sensor material for short space flight missions. Thin, boron doped diamond films, have been used to build sensor devices acting as Wheatstone bridge elements. These devices have been exposed to simulated atomic oxygen. The resistance of the exposed resistors increases linearly with exposure to atomic oxygen. No interruption of the diamond consumption due to "possible" inhibition layer formation has been observed. Such sensor devices are currently fabricated by standard diamond deposition and reactive ion patterning methods.