Diamond as an electronic material

The combination of extreme electronic and thermal properties found in synthetic diamond produced by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is raising considerable excitement over its potential use as a semiconductor material. Experimental studies have demonstrated charge-carrier mobilities1 of >3000 cm2V-1s-1 and thermal conductivities2 >2000 Wm-1K-1. The material has been predicted to have a breakdown field strength in excess of 10 MVcm-1. These figures suggest that, providing a range of technical challenges can be overcome, diamond would be particularly well suited to operation as a semiconductor material wherever high frequencies, high powers, high temperatures or high voltages are required.