Buy Online: Major article on synthetic diamond as an electronic material published
Materials Today, one of the leading journals for materials science, has published a major review article on the potential of synthetic diamond as an electronic material. Written by Chris Wort and Richard Balmer, senior researchers at Element Six, it explains the excitement around current developments in diamond synthesis for electronic applications.
“The invitation to write such a high profile, peer-reviewed article gives credence to the progress and high standing of our research and development team,” notes Christian Hultner, CEO of Element Six. “It also underlines our technical leadership in diamond synthesis and the fact that Element Six is at the forefront of developments in market redefining disruptive technologies.”
Diamond is a wide-bandgap semiconductor and its potential as an electronic device material finds use in active devices such as high-frequency field-effect transistors and high-power switches, and passive devices, such as Schottky diodes. The properties of diamond offer the hope of developing electronic devices that could outperform current systems in terms of operating frequency, power handling, operating voltage and operating environment. Element Six established Diamond Microwave Devices Ltd, set up in 2007 to develop field-effect transistors for high frequency applications.
The article, which appears in the journal’s Jan-Feb 2008 issue, reviews the properties of diamond important to electronic applications, compares them with competing materials and discusses the business and economic drivers that are pushing current developments. In addition, some electronic device designs are explored. The article explains current developments in diamond synthesis involving chemical vapour deposition processes that are enabling specific materials properties to be precisely and reproducibly controlled. Such processes are key to the use of diamond in advanced applications such as in electronics.
To read the full review article, go to www.materialstoday.