Diamond

Where does a diamond come from and why study it?

Diamonds hold a distinguished status, revered for their unparalleled hardness, brilliance, and unique properties.

Structurally, diamonds consist of carbon atoms arranged in a crystalline lattice, forming a symmetrical arrangement of tetrahedral units. Diamonds are mostly formed naturally, through geological processes in the Earth’s mantle that take millions of years. Advancements in technology have enabled the production of synthetic diamonds, using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) or high-pressure high-temperature (HPHT) processes, hence offering a sustainable alternative for various applications.

Diamonds find widespread use across multiple fields, including electronics, optics, and innovative research. Their exceptional thermal conductivity and optical transparency make them indispensable in high-power electronic devices, such as semiconductor substrates, and abrasive, cutting and polishing tools.

As researchers continue to explore and harness the unique properties of diamonds, their enduring role as a cornerstone of advanced materials remains steadfast, driving innovation and shaping the future of technology and beyond.

Resources

Diamond application notes

Main properties determined by Spectroscopic Ellipsometry.

The UVISEL Spectroscopic Ellipsometer is the ideal tool for reliable film thickness and optical constants characterization of amorphous carbon coatings, even in difficult cases where the film thickness is very thin. Roughness, and interface "adhesion" can also been determined.

In this work, spectroscopic ellipsometry is used to investigate the optical and structural properties of crystalline doped and undoped diamond layers. This information is important for the optimization of the efficiency of these layers when involved in different kinds of devices.

Fabrication of the diamond micro-pillars

Luminescent defects in single crystal diamond are the focus of intense research activities due to a broad range of possible applications in quantum computing, cryptography and magnetometry. Among them, the so called Nitrogen-Vacancy (NV) centre is particularly promising due to exceptionally long spin coherence times at room temperature. The spin state of this defect can also be optically manipulated and read-out which could pave the way to innovative solid-state quantum mechanical systems.

Coloured Diamond Defect Identification by Raman Diffusion and Photoluminescence

The colour enhancement treatment on native brown and yellow diamonds can be highlighted by Photo Luminescence analyses performed with the Raman spectrometer LabRAM HR. The PL signature of green and violet diamonds has also been recorded. The defect centres responsible of the colour of the diamonds have all been detected and assigned. This proves the Raman spectrometer to be a very good tool to investigate the fine defects in the Diamond structure by Photoluminescence analysis.

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HORIBA Solutions

With a commitment to innovation, HORIBA provides a comprehensive suite of advanced instruments for characterizing diamond properties. From Raman spectroscopy, revealing structural integrity and impurities, to SEM-CL (Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled to cathodoluminescence) for detailed imaging and mapping optical and electronic properties, HORIBA's solutions empower researchers and industry professionals to extract valuable insights from diamonds.