Diamonds
At HZB, my research focused on Diamonds materials. Diamonds have captivated the attention of physicists and researchers due to their remarkable properties, which offer a myriad of possibilities for cutting-edge physics research. One of the most intriguing aspects is the presence of nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers, where a nitrogen atom substitutes a carbon atom adjacent to a lattice vacancy. These NV centers exhibit remarkable quantum properties, such as long coherence times and exceptional sensitivity to external magnetic fields, making them ideal candidates for quantum computing and quantum sensing applications.
Unlike traditional semiconductors like silicon, diamonds possess a wide bandgap, which allows for efficient electron-hole separation and minimal leakage current, even at high temperatures. This characteristic makes diamond an excellent candidate for high-power and high-frequency electronic devices, as well as for applications in harsh environments where other semiconductors would fail. Additionally, diamond's exceptional thermal conductivity ensures effective heat dissipation, making it ideal for power electronics and high-power radio-frequency transistors. As the understanding of diamond's semiconductor properties deepens, it is expected to revolutionize various technological domains and pave the way for the next generation of electronic devices with unmatched performance and reliability.
Finally, Diamonds have garnered significant interest in the realm of electrochemistry and the emission of solvated electrons due to their unique properties. Conducting electricity when doped with boron, diamond's high thermal conductivity and wide electrochemical potential window make it an ideal substrate for various electrochemical applications. Moreover, diamond electrodes exhibit exceptional stability and resistivity to harsh chemical environments, allowing for prolonged and reliable use. On top of that, the surface of diamonds can be engineered to possess abundant surface defects, enabling the emission of solvated electrons. This phenomenon plays a crucial role in processes like the reduction reaction of CO2 and N2 molecules.
CVD chamber (up), diamond single crystal grown by CVD pure (bottom left) and doped with boron atoms (bottom right).
Diamonds are Expensive?
Diamonds are Industrially produced!
Detonation synthesis, also known as explosive synthesis, produces nanodiamonds. A mixture of carbon-containing explosive materials, such as TNT or RDX, is detonated under controlled conditions. The detonation generates an intense shock wave that creates a high-pressure and high-temperature environment for a brief moment. The carbon atoms rapidly transform into diamond crystals, and the rapid quenching that follows freezes the diamond crystals. The resulting detonation nanodiamonds are typically very small, with sizes ranging from a few nanometers to a few hundred nanometers. They are useful in various industrial applications, including as additives in lubricants, fillers in composite materials, and as carriers for drug delivery systems in medicine.
On the other hand, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is a more modern and widely used technique to produce high-quality gem-grade diamonds. In CVD, a mixture of hydrogen and methane is introduced into a vacuum chamber, forming a plasma. Under controlled conditions, carbon atoms deposit layer by layer on a substrate, typically a diamond seed. This process allows for the precise control of diamond growth, resulting in large, high-quality diamonds suitable for use in jewelry and research or large polycrystal wafers used for electrochemistry.
In contrary to other materials, when the electrons of diamonds are excited by light, they naturally escape the crystal and are emitted in their environment. In water, the emission of solvated electrons from diamonds is a fascinating phenomenon that has garnered significant interest in recent research. These solvated electrons are highly reactive and capable of transferring their energy to nearby molecules, leading to various chemical reactions. So that diamonds has promising applications in fields like photochemistry and catalysis. This unique property of diamond seems particularly enhanced by the presence of surface state. Understanding and harnessing the emission of solvated electrons from diamonds open up exciting possibilities for advancing diverse scientific and technological frontiers!