Engineered Diamond Technologies

越来越多的传统材料无法满足新技术所要求的性能水平。我们需要具有非凡特性的新材料，使科学家和技术人员能够实现否则不可能实现的目标。金刚石就是这样一种超级材料，它可以通过不断增加对可利用性质的控制来合成。钻石的合成是目前英国领先世界的一个领域。应用的例子包括开发（i）超/同位素纯金刚石用于量子、光子和电子技术，包括用氮空位缺陷集合体功能化的金刚石用于活细胞的磁成像、磁导航和固态脉泽;（ii）重掺硼金刚石用于电化学传感（iii）用于下一代激光器的大型金刚石光学元件，其中金刚石是活性腔内元件而不仅仅是窗口;（iv）用于声学和热管理应用的多晶金刚石，从电力电子到5G通信。要抓住金刚石科学与技术（DST）的科学和商业机会，并在激烈的全球竞争中保持领先地位，需要TRL 1-3的协调研究，获取和保护英国产生的知识产权和能够正面应对多学科挑战的研究人员。拟议的繁荣伙伴关系将确保英国在DST方面的科技领先地位不受侵蚀。研究和合作方案分为三个工作包（WP）。WP 1专注于完美金刚石的合成，表征和开发，其中释放出最大的可开发特性，因为消除了导致问题应变的有害杂质和缺陷。大面积单晶CVD金刚石将生长，因为金刚石的巨大潜力在许多应用领域受到目前可用的小尺寸的限制。功能化的金刚石也将被生产，其中有用的缺陷已经被可控地引入。WP 2专注于钻石加工、功能化和集成技术的开发。仅仅培育钻石是不够的：我们必须开发工具包，使钻石能够加工成所需的几何结构，与其他材料集成，并进行适当的包装，而不会限制性能优势。WP 3解决了质量保证的挑战，使最终用户知道包装材料的性能符合他们的要求，并且可以以合理的成本重复生产材料。此外，在WP 3中，我们将生产概念验证设备，展示潜力并为新产品开发提供种子。该项目的成果将包括具有改进和定制特性的新材料，增强内在特性的新科学以及制造创新金刚石器件的能力。这项工作的重大影响将体现在新材料和新工艺的展示上，因为我们已经建立了一个完整的钻石供应链，（从材料的生产到设备的集成，同时仍保留所需的性能）以及合作伙伴公司将这些突破商业化。这项研究产生的新的科学认识将使我们能够创造创新和颠覆性技术：我们专注于最大限度地发挥这项研究和技术开发的影响，为我们的社会带来最大的利益。我们的研究计划的成果解决了我们今天面临的许多重大挑战，我们将与DST博士培训中心合作，通过一些外展活动促进DST研究（和一般STEM）的影响。我们将在各级积极倡导平等、多样性和包容性。

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 areas by the small sizes currently available. Functionalised diamond will also be produced where the useful defects have been controllably introduced. WP2 concentrates on the development of processing, functionalisation, and integration technologies for diamond. Growing the diamond is not enough: we have to develop the tool kit that enables processing of diamond into the desired geometrical structure, integration with other materials and suitable packaging that in no way limits performance advantages. WP3 addresses the challenge of quality assurance such that end users know that the packaged material properties meet their requirements, and that the material can be reproducibly produced at a reasonable cost. Also, in WP3 we will produce proof of concept devices that show the potential and seed new product development. The project outcomes will include new materials with improved and tailored properties, new science enabled by enhanced intrinsic properties and the ability to manufacture innovative diamond devices. The significant impacts of the work will be in the new materials and processes demonstrated, increased confidence in others to exploit diamond because we have established a complete diamond supply chain (from production of the material to integration in devices, whilst still retaining the required properties) and the commercialisation of the breakthroughs by partner companies.The new scientific understanding generated by the research will allow us to create innovative and disruptive technologies: we are focused on maximizing the impact of this research and technology development to the greatest benefit of our society. The deliverables of our research programme address many of the major challenges facing us today and we will, in collaboration with the Centre for Doctoral Training in DST, promote the impact of DST research (and STEM in general) via a number of outreach activities. We will actively embrace, at all levels, equality, diversity and inclusion.