Engineered Diamond Technologies

Increasingly conventional materials are not able to meet the performance levels required by new technologies. We need new materials with combinations of extraordinary properties that enable scientists and technologists to achieve the otherwise impossible. Diamond is one such super-material, which can be synthesized with ever-increasing control over the exploitable properties. The synthesis of diamond is currently an area where the UK leads the world. Examples of applications include exploitation of (i) ultra/isotopically pure diamond for quantum, photonic and electronic technologies including diamonds functionalised with ensembles of nitrogen-vacancy defects for magnetic imaging of living cells, magnetic navigation and solid-state masers; (ii) heavily boron-doped diamond for electrochemical sensing (in both hostile and biological environments) and water treatment; (iii) large diamond optical elements for next-generation lasers where diamond is an active intra-cavity element rather than just a window; (iv) polycrystalline diamond for acoustic and for thermal management applications ranging from power electronics to 5G communications.

Seizing the scientific and commercial opportunities of Diamond Science and Technology (DST) and staying ahead of stiff global competition, requires coordinated research at TRL 1-3, capture and protection of UK generated IP and researchers who can tackle multi-disciplinary challenges head-on. The proposed Prosperity Partnership would ensure that the UK's scientific and technological lead in DST is not eroded. The programme of research and collaboration is split into three work-packages (WPs). WP1 focusses on the synthesis, characterisation, and exploitation of perfect diamond in which the maximum exploitable properties are unleashed because deleterious impurities and defects which cause problematic strain are removed. Larger-area single crystal CVD diamond will be grown since diamond's immense potential is limited in many application...