From once being used only for jewelry purposes, synthetic diamonds are now revolutionizing industries like electronics. These lab-grown diamonds are made by using advanced techniques, such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and high pressure and high temperature (HPHT).
Synthetic diamonds are identical to natural diamonds in appearance and chemical composition. They are produced under controlled conditions, enabling the creation of specific properties suited for different industrial applications.
Adoption of synthetic diamonds in electronics is increasing rapidly due to growing demand for faster and more efficient electronics. Electronic manufacturers are incorporating synthetic diamond heat sinks for their exceptional thermal conductivity and electrical insulating properties.
Why Synthetic Diamonds in Electronics?
Synthetic diamonds offer various advantages over traditional materials like silicon. As a result, their adoption is gradually increasing in the booming electronics sector.
- Exceptional Thermal Conductivity of Synthetic Diamonds
Synthetic diamonds have helped solve a major challenge of high-performance electronics; heat management. They possess optimal thermal conductivity, making them an excellent heat sink in semiconductors and high-power transistors.
- Electrical Properties of Synthetic Diamonds
Synthetic diamonds are good electrical insulators. This means that they can withstand high voltages without breaking down. Courtesy of their high electrical insulation, these lab-grown diamonds have become ideal for insulating high power electronic components.
- Durability
Lab-grown diamonds are also replacing traditional materials like silicon due to their high durability. These diamonds are resistant to extreme environments, including chemical corrosion and high temperatures. This makes them ideal for industrial applications.
- High Bandgap
Synthetic diamonds possess a wide bandgap, allowing them to operate at higher temperatures and voltages than silicon. This property makes them suitable for high-power electronics and advanced semiconductor applications.
Impact of Synthetic Diamonds on the Electronics Industry
Synthetic Diamond for Semiconductors
In recent years, adoption of synthetic diamond as a semiconductor material has gained traction. This is mainly due to its exceptional properties, such as high thermal conductivity, wide bandgap, and electron mobility.
Synthetic diamond based semiconductors are becoming ideal replacements for silicon-based semiconductors. They have the tendency to handle higher voltages and temperatures, thereby making them ideal for electric vehicles, 5G networks, and other applications.
Advancements in synthetic diamond production have paved way for the development of high-quality diamond wafers. These wafers can serve as substrates for semiconductor materials.
Companies are shifting their focus to developing GaN-on-diamond wafers. For instance, the United States-based Akash Systems is developing GaN-on-diamond wafers to improve the efficiency and thermal management of semiconductor devices. Similarly, Element Six is actively creating GaN-on-diamond solutions.
Synthetic Diamond for High-Performance Electronics
Modern power electronics require materials that can withstand high temperatures and voltages. This is where synthetic diamonds step in. Diamond-based transistors and diodes offer higher efficiency and durability than traditional silicon. They have the potential to improve performance of EV power systems and energy grids.
Synthetic diamonds are making their way into quantum computing. They can store and process quantum information due to presence of nitrogen-vacancy centers.
The role of synthetic diamonds in 5G technology cannot be overlooked. Synthetic diamonds are being used to create high-frequency transistors for applications like 5G, owing to their high electron mobility.
Synthetic diamond-based devices can operate at high frequencies, leading to faster data transfer and improved signal processing. As a result, they are gradually replacing traditional silicon-based devices.
Synthetic Diamond in Photonics
Lab-grown diamonds are gaining momentum in photonics. They are being used in optical sensors, high-power lasers, and telecommunications. This is mainly due to their tendency to transmit a wide range of wavelengths with minimal signal loss.
Synthetic Diamond as Heat Sinks
Heat dissipation has become a big challenge amid miniaturization of electronic devices. To address this, companies are now using synthetic diamonds as heat sinks in high-performance electronics like laser diodes, microprocessors, and high-power amplifiers. This is due to their excellent thermal conductivity.
The future of synthetic diamonds in electronics looks promising. Advancements in manufacturing technologies are set to make synthetic diamonds more affordable and efficient. This will further encourage their adoption in the electronics sector.
Growing demand for high-performance electronics is set to fuel adoption of lab-grown diamonds. This, in turn, will provide an additional thrust to the global synthetic diamond industry. As per Coherent Market Insights (CMI), the target industry is set to record a CAGR of 7% during the forecast period.
