Diamond steps up for thin films
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.028732
MIT Technology Review : Diamond possesses remarkable physical properties—it is strong, transparent, and thermally conductive. Hence, thin films made from diamond could be extremely useful in various electronic and mechanical micro- and nanodevices. However, growing diamond thin films requires stringent conditions, including high temperatures and an atmosphere of pure hydrogen. Now a group of researchers has shown how diamond nanosheets can be grown on a substrate of quartz and then transferred elsewhere as needed. At a thickness of about 180 nm, the diamond separates naturally from the quartz and can be moved and attached to another surface, such as an electronic circuit, through the use of a sticky film. Because it is so labor-intensive, the current technique is not yet viable for mass production of diamond-based devices.
