Highly Conductive Paths in Diamond and their Application in High Pressure Measurements

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Solid-State Physics

Background:

• Diamond's unique properties (mechanical strength, thermal conductivity) make it ideal for advanced electronics.
• Fabricating conductive pathways in diamond is a major technological hurdle for its electronic applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a controlled method for creating precise amorphous conductive paths in monocrystalline diamond.
• To characterize the electrical and morphological properties of these fabricated conductive structures.
• To explore potential applications in high-pressure environments and diamond electronics.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a focused ion beam (FIB) technique for controlled fabrication of conductive paths.
• Determined optimal ion charge dose for minimal electrical resistance.
• Conducted morphological and elemental analysis of the modified diamond structures.

Main Results:

• Identified an optimal charge dose of 10^17 ions/cm^2 for lowest resistance.
• Fabricated structures exhibited amorphous morphology containing gallium ions.
• Achieved a remarkably low resistivity of 30 μΩm, comparable to metals.

Conclusions:

• The FIB technique offers a viable method for fabricating conductive structures in diamond.
• The low resistivity achieved opens avenues for diamond-based electronics.
• Potential applications include high-pressure sensors and devices for extreme environments.