Researchers Have Found That Diamond Has Conductivity Close To That Of Metals

American researchers have discovered a new characteristic in boron doped diamond - the plasmon effect. This may make biomedical and quantum optical devices more efficient and capable of processing information in ways that traditional technologies cannot achieve. The related paper was published on the 13th in the journal Nature Communications.

 

Diamond is becoming a key material in high-power electronic devices and next-generation quantum optical technology. By doping with impurities such as boron, scientists can adjust the properties of diamond to give it conductivity similar to that of metals.

 

A team from Case Western Reserve University and the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign has discovered that boron doped diamond exhibits another unique plasmonic characteristic: when exposed to light, its internal electrons collectively oscillate, producing a strong local electric field enhancement effect. This ability is crucial for developing advanced biosensors, nano optical components, and improving the performance of solar cells and quantum devices. It is worth noting that although other semiconductors or metals also have similar properties, they are usually opaque, while boron doped diamond retains optical transparency, which gives it an additional advantage.

 

The plasmonic phenomenon refers to the electromagnetic wave patterns formed at the nanoscale when light interacts with matter. This phenomenon has appeared in art works for centuries, such as the brilliant colors on medieval church stained glass windows, which are caused by the plasmon effect generated by metal nanoparticles embedded in the glass.

 

Because diamond is a transparent crystal structure composed of carbon atoms, when a small amount of boron is added, boron has one less electron than carbon, which can form periodic electron "holes" in the material, thereby increasing its conductivity. Diamond remains transparent and has a blue hue. Boron doped diamond also has chemical inertness and biocompatibility, making it suitable for medical imaging, high-sensitivity biochips, and molecular sensors.