A team of researchers at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), led by Professor Zhiqin Chu and Professor Yuan Lin, has developed a groundbreaking method for creating ultrathin, ultra-flexible diamond membranes. Their work, in collaboration with experts from the Southern University of Science and Technology and Peking University, promises to revolutionize various industries, including electronics, photonics, and quantum technologies.
The new method enables the production of diamond membranes that are compatible with current semiconductor manufacturing processes. This compatibility opens the door for their integration into a wide range of applications, such as electronic devices, photonic systems, mechanical structures, acoustic technologies, and quantum devices.
A New Method for Diamond Fabrication
The team’s innovative fabrication technique, known as edge-exposed exfoliation, allows for the rapid and scalable production of free-standing diamond membranes. Unlike traditional methods, which are often expensive and time-consuming, this process can produce a two-inch diamond wafer in just 10 seconds, setting a new benchmark for efficiency in the field.
The ability to create large, high-quality diamond membranes quickly and affordably marks a significant advancement over previous approaches, which have been limited in size and difficult to scale.
Applications Across Industries
The diamond membranes’ ultra-flat surfaces and flexibility make them ideal for high-precision micromanufacturing, offering new possibilities for flexible and wearable electronic and photonic devices. The research team sees vast potential for these membranes in a wide range of sectors, including electronics, photonics, mechanics, thermal management, acoustics, and quantum technologies.
Professor Chu emphasized the significance of this breakthrough, stating, “We hope to promote the use of these high-quality diamond membranes in various fields and work toward commercializing this cutting-edge technology. Our goal is to set a new standard in the semiconductor industry and collaborate with academic and industry partners to bring this product to market, accelerating the arrival of the ‘diamond era’ in technology.”
The Unique Properties of Diamonds
Diamonds are widely known for their strength and beauty, but they also have exceptional properties that make them valuable in scientific and engineering fields. As the hardest natural material, diamonds offer outstanding thermal conductivity, high carrier mobility, and a broad range of optical transparency from infrared to deep ultraviolet light. These qualities make them ideal for applications in high-power electronics, photonics, and heat management systems, such as those used in processors, semiconductor lasers, and electric vehicles.
Despite their many advantages, diamonds’ rigid crystal structure and inert nature have made it challenging to fabricate ultrathin, freestanding diamond membranes on a large scale. This new technology overcomes those challenges, unlocking the full potential of diamonds for a variety of cutting-edge technologies.
This breakthrough in diamond fabrication could pave the way for next-generation electronic and photonic devices, setting a new standard for materials in advanced technology development.
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