Engineered Diamond Technologies

传统材料越来越不能满足新技术所要求的性能水平。我们需要具有非凡性能的新材料，使科学家和技术人员能够实现原本不可能实现的目标。金刚石就是这样一种超材料，它可以通过不断增加对可开采性能的控制来合成。钻石合成目前是英国领先于世界的一个领域。应用的例子包括：(1)开发用于量子、光子和电子技术的超/同位素纯钻石，包括用于活细胞磁成像、磁性导航和固态脉泽的具有氮空位缺陷系综的钻石；(2)用于电化学传感(在恶劣和生物环境中)和水处理的重掺硼钻石；(3)用于下一代激光的大型钻石光学元件，其中钻石是有源的腔内元件，而不仅仅是一个窗口；(Iv)用于从电力电子到5G通信的声学和热管理应用的多晶钻石。抓住钻石科技(DST)的科学和商业机遇并在激烈的全球竞争中保持领先地位，需要在TRL 1-3进行协调研究，捕获和保护英国产生的知识产权，以及能够正面应对多学科挑战的研究人员。拟议中的繁荣伙伴关系将确保英国在DST方面的科技领先地位不会受到侵蚀。研究和协作方案分为三个工作包(WPS)。WP1专注于完美钻石的合成、表征和开发，在这种钻石中，由于有害杂质和缺陷被去除，导致问题应变的有害杂质和缺陷被最大限度地释放出来。更大面积的单晶CVD金刚石将被生长，因为钻石的巨大潜力在许多应用领域受到现有小尺寸的限制。功能化的钻石也将在有用的缺陷被可控地引入的地方生产。WP2专注于钻石加工、功能化和集成技术的开发。仅生长钻石是不够的：我们必须开发工具包，使钻石能够加工成所需的几何结构、与其他材料集成以及不以任何方式限制性能优势的适当包装。WP3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，并且材料可以以合理的成本重复生产。此外，在WP3中，我们将生产概念验证设备，展示其潜力并启动新产品开发。项目成果将包括具有改进和量身定做的性能的新材料，通过增强固有性能实现的新科学，以及制造创新钻石装置的能力。这项工作的重大影响将体现在所展示的新材料和新工艺上，增强了人们对开采钻石的信心，因为我们已经建立了完整的钻石供应链(从材料的生产到设备的集成，同时仍保留所需的特性)，以及合作伙伴公司将突破商业化。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利益。我们研究方案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，通过一些外联活动促进DST研究(以及整个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.