Diamond continues to shine: new properties discovered in diamond semiconductors (as seen in The Daily)
Giuseppe Strangi, Professor and Ohio Research Scholar in Surfaces of Advanced Materials
Diamond, often celebrated for its unmatched hardness and transparency, has emerged as an exceptional material for high-power electronics and next-generation quantum optics. Diamond can be engineered to be as electrically conductive as a metal, by introducing impurities such as the element boron.
Researchers from Case Western Reserve University and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have now discovered another interesting property in diamonds with added boron, known as boron-doped diamonds. Their findings could pave the way for new types of biomedical and quantum optical devices—faster, more efficient, and capable of processing information in ways that classical technologies cannot. Their results are published recently in Nature Communications.
Potential advancements in quantum devices, biosensors, solar cells
The researchers found that boron-doped diamonds exhibit plasmons—waves of electrons that move when light hits them—allowing electric fields to be controlled and enhanced on a nanometer scale. This is important for advanced biosensors, nanoscale optical devices, and for improving solar cells and quantum devices. Previously, boron-doped diamonds were known to conduct electricity and become superconductors, but not to have plasmonic properties. Unlike metals or even other doped semiconductors, boron-doped diamonds remain optically clear.
“Diamond continues to shine” said Giuseppe Strangi, professor of physics at Case Western Reserve, “both literally and as a beacon for scientific and technological innovation. As we step further into the era of quantum computing and communication, discoveries like this bring us closer to harnessing the full potential of materials at their most fundamental level.”
Mohan Sankaran, Professor of Nuclear, Plasma and Radiological Engineering at Illinois Grainger College of Engineering
“Understanding how doping affects the optical response of semiconductors like diamond changes our understanding of these materials,” said Mohan Sankaran, professor of nuclear, plasma and radiological engineering at Illinois Grainger College of Engineering.
Plasmons create the colors of stained glass
Plasmonic materials, which affect light at the nanoscale, have captivated humans for centuries, even before their scientific principles were understood. The vibrant colors in medieval stained-glass windows result from metal nanoparticles embedded in the glass. When light passes through, these particles generate plasmons that produce specific colors. Gold nanoparticles appear ruby red, while silver nanoparticles display a vibrant yellow. This ancient art highlights the interaction between light and matter, inspiring modern advancements in nanotechnology and optics.