Boron-doped diamond nanosheet volume-enriched screen-printed carbon electrodes: a platform for electroanalytical and impedimetric biosensor applications.

This paper focuses on the development of a novel electrode based on boron-doped diamond nanosheet full-volume-enriched screen-printed carbon electrodes (BDDPE) for use as an impedimetric biosensor. Impedimetric biosensors offer high sensitivity and selectivity for virus detection, but their use as point-of-care devices is limited by the complexity of nanomaterials' architecture and the receptor immobilisation procedures. The study presents a two-step modification process involving the electroreduction of diazonium salt at the BDDPE and the immobilisation of antibodies using zero-length cross-linkers for a selective impedimetric biosensor of Haemophilus influenzae (Hi). The incorporation of diamond nanosheets into BDDPE leads to enhanced charge transfer and electrochemical behaviour, demonstrating greatly improved electrochemically active surface area compared with unmodified screen-printed electrodes (by 44% and 10% on average for [Ru(NH3)6]Cl2 and K3[Fe(CN)6], respectively). The presented sensing system shows high specificity towards protein D in Hi bacteria, as confirmed by negative controls against potential interference from other pathogens, with an estimated tolerance limit for interference under 12%. The Hi limit of detection by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was 1 CFU/mL (measured at - 0.13 V vs BDDPE pseudo-reference), which was achieved in under 10 min, including 5 min sample incubation in the presence of the analyte.

Highly Occupied Surface States at Deuterium-Grown Boron-Doped Diamond Interfaces for Efficient Photoelectrochemistry.

Polycrystalline boron-doped diamond is a promising material for high-power aqueous electrochemical applications in bioanalytics, catalysis, and energy storage. The chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process of diamond formation and doping is totally diversified by using high kinetic energies of deuterium substituting habitually applied hydrogen. The high concentration of deuterium in plasma induces atomic arrangements and steric hindrance during synthesis reactions, which in consequence leads to a preferential (111) texture and more effective boron incorporation into the lattice, reaching a one order of magnitude higher density of charge carriers. This provides the surface reconstruction impacting surficial populations of CC dimers, CH, CO groups, and COOH termination along with enhanced kinetics of their abstraction, as revealed by high-resolution core-level spectroscopies. A series of local densities of states were computed, showing a rich set of highly occupied and localized surface states for samples deposited in deuterium, negating the connotations of band bending. The introduction of enhanced incorporation of boron into (111) facet of diamond leads to the manifestation of surface electronic states below the Fermi level and above the bulk valence band edge. This unique electronic band structure affects the charge transfer kinetics, electron affinity, and diffusion field geometry critical for efficient electrolysis, electrocatalysis, and photoelectrochemistry.

Wide-field magnetometry using nitrogen-vacancy color centers with randomly oriented micro-diamonds.

Magnetometry with nitrogen-vacancy (NV) color centers in diamond has gained significant interest among researchers in recent years. Absolute knowledge of the three-dimensional orientation of the magnetic field is necessary for many applications. Conventional magnetometry measurements are usually performed with NV ensembles in a bulk diamond with a thin NV layer or a scanning probe in the form of a diamond tip, which requires a smooth sample surface and proximity of the probing device, often limiting the sensing capabilities. Our approach is to use micro- and nano-diamonds for wide-field detection and mapping of the magnetic field. In this study, we show that NV color centers in randomly oriented submicrometer-sized diamond powder deposited in a thin layer on a planar surface can be used to detect the magnetic field. Our work can be extended to irregular surfaces, which shows a promising path for nanodiamond-based photonic sensors.

Enhanced susceptibility of SARS-CoV-2 spike RBD protein assay targeted by cellular receptors ACE2 and CD147: Multivariate data analysis of multisine impedimetric response.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) enters the cells through the binding of spike protein to the host cell surface-expressing angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) or by endocytosis mediated by extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (CD147). We present extended statistical studies of the multisine dynamic electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (DEIS) revealing interactions between Spike RBD and cellular receptors ACE2 and CD147, and a reference anti-RBD antibody (IgG2B) based on a functionalised boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrode. The DEIS was supported by a multivariate data analysis of a SARS-CoV-2 Spike RBD assay and cross-correlated with the atomic-level information revealed by molecular dynamics simulations. This approach allowed us to study and detect subtle changes in the electrical properties responsible for the susceptibility of cellular receptors to SARS-CoV-2, revealing their interactions. Changes in electrical homogeneity in the function of the RBD concentration led to the conclusion that the ACE2 receptor delivers the most homogeneous surface, delivered by the high electrostatic potential of the relevant docking regions. For higher RBD concentrations, the differences in electrical homogeneity between electrodes with different receptors vanish. Collectively, this study reveals interdependent virus entry pathways involving separately ACE2, CD147, and spike protein, as assessed using a biosensing platform for the rapid screening of cellular interactions (i.e. testing various mutations of SARS-CoV-2 or screening of therapeutic drugs).

Tailoring of Optical Properties of Methacrylate Resins Enriched by HPHT Microdiamond Particles.

Diamond particles have great potential to enhance the mechanical, optical, and thermal properties of diamond-polymer composites. However, the improved properties of diamond-polymer composites depend on the size, dispersibility, and concentration of diamond particles. In the present study, diamond-polymer composites were prepared by adding the microdiamond particles (MDPs) with different concentrations (0.2-1 wt.%) into polymers (acrylate resins) and then subjected to a photocuring process. The surface morphology and topography of the MDPs-polymer composites demonstrated a uniform high-density distribution of MDPs for one wt.% MPDs. Thermogravimetric analysis was employed to investigate the thermal stability of the MDPs-polymer composites. The addition of MDPs has significantly influenced the polymers' thermal degradation. Absorption and emission spectra of thin layers were recorded through UV/Vis spectrophotometry and spectrofluorimetry. The obtained results revealed a significant increase in the fluorescence intensity of MDPs-polymer composites (at 1 wt.% of MDPs, a 1.5×, 2×, and 5× increase in fluorescence was observed for MDPs-green, MDPs-amber daylight, and MDPs-red resin, respectively) compared with the reference polymer resins. The obtained results of this work show the new pathways in producing effective and active 3D-printed optical elements.

Conductive printable electrodes tuned by boron-doped nanodiamond foil additives for nitroexplosive detection.

An efficient additive manufacturing-based composite material fabrication for electrochemical applications is reported. The composite is composed of commercially available graphene-doped polylactide acid (G-PLA) 3D printouts and surface-functionalized with nanocrystalline boron-doped diamond foil (NDF) additives. The NDFs were synthesized on a tantalum substrate and transferred to the 3D-printout surface at 200 °C. No other electrode activation treatment was necessary. Different configurations of low- and heavy-boron doping NDFs were evaluated. The electrode kinetics was analyzed using electrochemical procedures: cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The quasi-reversible electrochemical process was reported in each studied case. The studies allowed confirmation of the CV peak-to-peak separation of 63 mV and remarkably high heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant reaching 6.1 × 10-2 cm s-1 for 10 k ppm [B]/[C] thin NDF fitted topside at the G-PLA electrode. Differential pulse voltammetry was used for effective 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) detection at the studied electrodes with a 87 ppb limit of detection, and wide linearity range between peak current density and the analyte concentration (0.064 to 64 ppm of TNT). The reported electrode kinetic differences originate primarily from the boron-dopant concentration in the diamond and the various contents of the non-diamond carbon phase.

Tailoring Diffusional Fields in Zwitterion/Dopamine Copolymer Electropolymerized at Carbon Nanowalls for Sensitive Recognition of Neurotransmitters.

The importance of neurotransmitter sensing in the diagnosis and treatment of many psychological illnesses and neurodegenerative diseases is non-negotiable. For electrochemical sensors to become widespread and accurate, a long journey must be undertaken for each device, from understanding the materials at the molecular level to real applications in biological fluids. We report a modification of diamondized boron-doped carbon nanowalls (BCNWs) with an electropolymerized polydopamine/polyzwitterion (PDA|PZ) coating revealing tunable mechanical and electrochemical properties. Zwitterions are codeposited with PDA and noncovalently incorporated into a structure. This approach causes a specific separation of the diffusion fields generated by each nanowall during electrochemical reactions, thus increasing the contribution of the steady-state currents in the amperometric response. This phenomenon has a profound effect on the sensing properties, leading to a 4-fold enhancement of the sensitivity (3.1 to 14.3 µA cm-2 µM-1) and a 5-fold decrease of the limit of detection (505 to 89 nM) in comparison to the pristine BCNWs. Moreover, as a result of the antifouling capabilities of the incorporated zwitterions, this enhancement is preserved in bovine serum albumin (BSA) with a high protein concentration. The presence of zwitterion facilitates the transport of dopamine in the direction of the electrode by intermolecular interactions such as cation-π and hydrogen bonds. On the other hand, polydopamine units attached to the surface form molecular pockets driven by hydrogen bonds and π-π interactions. As a result, the intermediate state of dopamine-analyte oxidation is stabilized, leading to the enhancement of the sensing properties.

Performance of electrochemical immunoassays for clinical diagnostics of SARS-CoV-2 based on selective nucleocapsid N protein detection: Boron-doped diamond, gold and glassy carbon evaluation.

The 21st century has already brought us a plethora of new threats related to viruses that emerge in humans after zoonotic transmission or drastically change their geographic distribution or prevalence. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was first spotted at the end of 2019 to rapidly spread in southwest Asia and later cause a global pandemic, which paralyzes the world since then. We have designed novel immunosensors targeting conserved protein sequences of the N protein of SARS-CoV-2 based on lab-produced and purified anti-SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid antibodies that are densely grafted onto various surfaces (diamond/gold/glassy carbon). Titration of antibodies shows very strong reactions up to 1:72 900 dilution. Next, we showed the mechanism of interactions of our immunoassay with nucleocapsid N protein revealing molecular recognition by impedimetric measurements supported by hybrid modeling results with both density functional theory and molecular dynamics methods. Biosensors allowed for a fast (in less than 10 min) detection of SARS-CoV-2 virus with a limit of detection from 0.227 ng/ml through 0.334 ng/ml to 0.362 ng/ml for glassy carbon, boron-doped diamond, and gold surfaces, respectively. For all tested surfaces, we obtained a wide linear range of concentrations from 4.4 ng/ml to 4.4 pg/ml. Furthermore, our sensor leads to a highly specific response to SARS-CoV-2 clinical samples versus other upper respiratory tract viruses such as influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, or Epstein-Barr virus. All clinical samples were tested simultaneously on biosensors and real-time polymerase chain reactions.

Fluorescence of nanodiamond cocktails: pH-induced effects through interactions with comestible liquids.

Fluorescent nanodiamonds with nitrogen-vacancy centers have become important nanoscale probes for sensing and imaging. The surface chemistry of the nanodiamonds influences their emission, interactions, and quantum properties. In this work, we propose to utilize fluorescent nanodiamonds as photostable markers for investigation of comestible liquids. We prepared nanodiamond/comestibles suspensions/cocktails with a wide range of pH levels and studied the samples via fluorescence, wettability, and zeta potential. The composition of the created cocktails revealed a strong impact on the properties of the nanodiamond and its surface chemistry, mainly induced by pH but also tuned by specific quenching compounds. Moreover, the stability of the nanodiamonds in the cocktail media was studied, along with various nature-originated compounds influencing their surface termination, polarity, and charge states. Thanks to the stability and biocompatibility of the nanodiamond, it can be applied in monitoring the condition of foodstuffs, and in the detection of toxins and pathogens in them.

Influence of B/N co-doping on electrical and photoluminescence properties of CVD grown homoepitaxial diamond films.

Boron doped diamond (BDD) has great potential in electrical, and electrochemical sensing applications. The growth parameters, substrates, and synthesis method play a vital role in the preparation of semiconducting BDD to metallic BDD. Doping of other elements along with boron (B) into diamond demonstrated improved efficacy of B doping and exceptional properties. In the present study, B and nitrogen (N) co-doped diamond has been synthesized on single crystalline diamond (SCD) IIa and SCD Ib substrates in a microwave plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition process. The B/N co-doping into CVD diamond has been conducted at constant N flow of N/C âˆ¼ 0.02 with three different B/C doping concentrations of B/C âˆ¼ 2500 ppm, 5000 ppm, 7500 ppm. Atomic force microscopy topography depicted the flat and smooth surface with low surface roughness for low B doping, whereas surface features like hillock structures and un-epitaxial diamond crystals with high surface roughness were observed for high B doping concentrations. KPFM measurements revealed that the work function (4.74-4.94 eV) has not varied significantly for CVD diamond synthesized with different B/C concentrations. Raman spectroscopy measurements described the growth of high-quality diamond and photoluminescence studies revealed the formation of high-density nitrogen-vacancy centers in CVD diamond layers. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results confirmed the successful B doping and the increase in N doping with B doping concentration. The room temperature electrical resistance measurements of CVD diamond layers (B/C âˆ¼ 7500 ppm) have shown the low resistance value âˆ¼9.29 Ω for CVD diamond/SCD IIa, and the resistance value âˆ¼16.55 Ω for CVD diamond/SCD Ib samples.

Implementation of SiN thin film in fiber-optic sensor working in telecommunication range of wavelengths.

Mirrors are used in optical sensors and measurement setups. This creates a demand for mirrors made of new materials and having various properties tailored to specific applications. In this work, we propose silicon covered with a thin silicon nitride layer as a mirror for near-infrared measurements. SiN layer was deposited on a standard silicon wafer with a Low-Pressure Chemical Vapor Deposition furnace. Then, the created layer was investigated using ellipsometry and scanning electron microscope. Subsequently, the mirror was used as a reflecting surface in a Fabry-Perot fiber-optic interferometer. The mirror performance was investigated for wavelengths used in telecomunication (1310 nm and 1550 nm) and then compared with results obtained with the same measurement setup, with a silver mirror instead of silicon covered with SiN, as reference. Results showed that the proposed mirror can replace the silver one with satisfying results for investigated wavelengths.

Nitrogen-Incorporated Boron-Doped Nanocrystalline Diamond Nanowires for Microplasma Illumination.

The origin of nitrogen-incorporated boron-doped nanocrystalline diamond (NB-NCD) nanowires as a function of substrate temperature (Ts) in H2/CH4/B2H6/N2 reactant gases is systematically addressed. Because of Ts, there is a drastic modification in the dimensional structure and microstructure and hence in the several properties of the NB-NCD films. The NB-NCD films grown at low Ts (400 °C) contain faceted diamond grains. The morphology changes to nanosized diamond grains for NB-NCD films grown at 550 °C (or 700 °C). Interestingly, the NB-NCD films grown at 850 °C possess one-dimensional nanowire-like morphological grains. These nanowire-like NB-NCD films possess the co-existence of the sp3-diamond phase and the sp2-graphitic phase, where diamond nanowires are surrounded by sp2-graphitic phases at grain boundaries. The optical emission spectroscopy studies stated that the CN, BH, and C2 species in the plasma are the main factors for the origin of nanowire-like conducting diamond grains and the materialization of graphitic phases at the grain boundaries. Moreover, conductive atomic force microscopy studies reveal that the NB-NCD films grown at 850 °C show a large number of emission sites from the grains and the grain boundaries. While boron doping improved the electrical conductivity of the NCD grains, the nitrogen incorporation eased the generation of graphitic phases at the grain boundaries that afford conducting channels for the electrons, thus achieving a high electrical conductivity for the NB-NCD films grown at 850 °C. The microplasma devices using these nanowire-like NB-NCD films as cathodes display superior plasma illumination properties with a threshold field of 3300 V/µm and plasma current density of 1.04 mA/cm2 with a supplied voltage of 520 V and a lifetime stability of 520 min. The outstanding plasma illumination characteristics of these conducting nanowire-like NB-NCD films make them appropriate as cathodes and pave the way for the utilization of these materials in various microplasma device applications.

Diamond Nanofilm Normalizes Proliferation and Metabolism in Liver Cancer Cells.

PURPOSE: Surgical resection of hepatocellular carcinoma can be associated with recurrence resulting from the degeneration of residual volume of the liver. The objective was to assess the possibility of using a biocompatible nanofilm, made of a colloid of diamond nanoparticles (nfND), to fill the side after tumour resection and optimize its contact with proliferating liver cells, minimizing their cancerous transformation. METHODS: HepG2 and C3A liver cancer cells and HS-5 non-cancer cells were used. An aqueous colloid of diamond nanoparticles, which covered the cell culture plate, was used to create the nanofilm. The roughness of the resulting nanofilm was measured by atomic force microscopy. Mitochondrial activity and cell proliferation were measured by XTT and BrdU assays. Cell morphology and a scratch test were used to evaluate the invasiveness of cells. Flow cytometry determined the number of cells within the cell cycle. Protein expression in was measured by mass spectrometry. RESULTS: The nfND created a surface with increased roughness and exposed oxygen groups compared with a standard plate. All cell lines were prone to settling on the nanofilm, but cancer cells formed more relaxed clusters. The surface compatibility was dependent on the cell type and decreased in the order C3A >HepG2 >HS-5. The invasion was reduced in cancer lines with the greatest effect on the C3A line, reducing proliferation and increasing the G2/M cell population. Among the proteins with altered expression, membrane and nuclear proteins dominated. CONCLUSION: In vitro studies demonstrated the antiproliferative properties of nfND against C3A liver cancer cells. At the same time, the need to personalize potential therapy was indicated due to the differential protein synthetic responses in C3A vs HepG2 cells. We documented that nfND is a source of signals capable of normalizing the expression of many intracellular proteins involved in the transformation to non-cancerous cells.

Highly selective impedimetric determination of Haemophilus influenzae protein D using maze-like boron-doped carbon nanowall electrodes.

This study reports a novel impedimetric immunosensor for protein D detection in purified and bacterial (Haemophilus influenzae, Hi) samples. The detection was based on antigen recognition by anti-protein D antibodies (apD) immobilised at the maze-like boron-doped carbon nanowall electrodes (B:CNW). The B:CNW electrodes were synthesised, and their surface was characterised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) methods. The sensor was prepared in a two-step procedure: apD were covalently linked on the previously modified B:CNW electrodes using diazonium salt. Modification steps were controlled by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurements. The immunosensor exhibited excellent electrochemical performance, stability, satisfactory sensitivities, and linear ranges for antigen detection. Protein D was detected down to 2.39 × 102fg/mL with a linear range extending from 3.37 × 10-11to 3.37 × 10-3µg/mL (in purified sample). Next, Hi's LOD was 5.20 × 102CFU/mL with a linear range of 8.39 × 101-8.39 × 103CFU/mL. Selectivity studies showed no reaction with negative samples as Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae or Bordetella parapertussis bacteria. Therefore, the new approach is suitable for rapid and quantitative detection of Hi, and is a good candidate for further tests on clinical samples.

Single-step grown boron doped nanocrystalline diamond-carbon nanograss hybrid as an efficient supercapacitor electrode.

Direct synthesis of a nano-structured carbon hybrid consisting of vertically aligned carbon nanograsses on top of boron-doped nanocrystalline diamond is demonstrated and the carbon hybrid is further applied as an electrode material for the fabrication of supercapacitors. The hybrid film combines the dual advantages of sp2 (carbon nanograss) and sp3 (nanocrystalline diamond) bonded carbon, possessing not only the excellent electrical characteristics of sp2 carbon but also the exceptional electrochemical stability of sp3 carbon. As a result, the specific capacitance of the as-prepared hybrid material reaches up to 0.4 F cm-2, one of the highest reported in diamond-based supercapacitors. The entire electrochemical results exhibit enhanced electron transfer efficiency with remarkable stability of 95% of capacitance retention even after 10 000 cycles.

Physicochemical and Mechanical Performance of Freestanding Boron-Doped Diamond Nanosheets Coated with C:H:N:O Plasma Polymer.

The physicochemical and mechanical properties of thin and freestanding heavy boron-doped diamond (BDD) nanosheets coated with a thin C:H:N:O plasma polymer were studied. First, diamond nanosheets were grown and doped with boron on a Ta substrate using the microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition technique (MPECVD). Next, the BDD/Ta samples were covered with nylon 6.6 to improve their stability in harsh environments and flexibility during elastic deformations. Plasma polymer films with a thickness of the 500-1000 nm were obtained by magnetron sputtering of a bulk target of nylon 6.6. Hydrophilic nitrogen-rich C:H:N:O was prepared by the sputtering of nylon 6.6. C:H:N:O as a film with high surface energy improves adhesion in ambient conditions. The nylon-diamond interface was perfectly formed, and hence, the adhesion behavior could be attributed to the dissipation of viscoelastic energy originating from irreversible energy loss in soft polymer structure. Diamond surface heterogeneities have been shown to pin the contact edge, indicating that the retraction process causes instantaneous fluctuations on the surface in specified microscale regions. The observed Raman bands at 390, 275, and 220 cm-1 were weak; therefore, the obtained films exhibited a low level of nylon 6 polymerization and short-distance arrangement, indicating crystal symmetry and interchain interactions. The mechanical properties of the nylon-on-diamond were determined by a nanoindentation test in multiload mode. Increasing the maximum load during the nanoindentation test resulted in a decreased hardness of the fabricated structure. The integration of freestanding diamond nanosheets will make it possible to design flexible chemical multielectrode sensors.

Nanodiamond phantoms mimicking human liver: perspective to calibration of T1 relaxation time in magnetic resonance imaging.

Phantoms of biological tissues are materials that mimic the properties of real tissues. This study shows the development of phantoms with nanodiamond particles for calibration of T1 relaxation time in magnetic resonance imaging. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a commonly used and non-invasive method of detecting pathological changes inside the human body. Nevertheless, before a new MRI device is approved for use, it is necessary to calibrate it properly and to check its technical parameters. In this article, we present phantoms of tissue with diamond nanoparticles dedicated to magnetic resonance calibration. The method of producing phantoms has been described. As a result of our research, we obtained phantoms that were characterized by the relaxation time T1 the same as the relaxation time of the human tissue T1 = 810.5 ms. Furthermore, the use of diamond nanoparticles in phantoms allowed us to tune the T1 value of the phantoms which open the way to elaborated phantoms of other tissues in the future.

High-Temperature Oxidation of Heavy Boron-Doped Diamond Electrodes: Microstructural and Electrochemical Performance Modification.

In this work, we reveal in detail the effects of high-temperature treatment in air at 600 °C on the microstructure as well as the physico-chemical and electrochemical properties of boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes. The thermal treatment of freshly grown BDD electrodes was applied, resulting in permanent structural modifications of surface depending on the exposure time. High temperature affects material corrosion, inducing crystal defects. The oxidized BDD surfaces were studied by means of cyclic voltammetry (CV) and scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM), revealing a significant decrease in the electrode activity and local heterogeneity of areas owing to various standard rate constants. This effect was correlated with a resultant increase of surface resistance heterogeneity by scanning spreading resistance microscopy (SSRM). The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed the rate and heterogeneity of the oxidation process, revealing hydroxyl species to be dominant on the electrode surface. Morphological tests using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed that prolonged durations of high-temperature treatment lead not only to surface oxidation but also to irreversible structural defects in the form of etch pits. Our results show that even subsequent electrode rehydrogenation in plasma is not sufficient to reverse this surface oxidation in terms of electrochemical and physico-chemical properties, and the nature of high-temperature corrosion of BDD electrodes should be considered irreversible.

Boron-Doped Nanocrystalline Diamond-Carbon Nanospike Hybrid Electron Emission Source.

Electron emission signifies an important mechanism facilitating the enlargement of devices that have modernized large parts of science and technology. Today, the search for innovative electron emission devices for imaging, sensing, electronics, and high-energy physics continues. Integrating two materials with dissimilar electronic properties into a hybrid material is an extremely sought-after synergistic approach, envisioning a superior field electron emission (FEE) material. An innovation is described regarding the fabrication of a nanostructured carbon hybrid, resulting from the one-step growth of boron-doped nanocrystalline diamond (BNCD) and carbon nanospikes (CNSs) by a microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition technique. Spectroscopic and microscopic tools are used to investigate the morphological, bonding, and microstructural characteristics related to the growth mechanism of these hybrids. Utilizing the benefits of both the sharp edges of the CNSs and the high stability of BNCD, promising FEE performance with a lower turn-on field of 1.3 V/µm, a higher field enhancement factor of 6780, and a stable FEE current stability lasting for 780 min is obtained. The microplasma devices utilizing these hybrids as a cathode illustrate a superior plasma illumination behavior. Such hybrid carbon nanostructures, with superb electron emission characteristics, can encourage the enlargement of several electron emission device technologies.