Wide bandgap (WBG) materials — such as silicon carbide (SiC), gallium nitride (GaN) and synthetic diamonds — have long been promised as a game-changer for power systems, next-generation electronics and communication devices.
While SiC and GaN are beginning to find traction in the market as electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy sources grind toward mainstream, synthetic diamond semiconductors are not nearly as mature but potentially more efficient than these other WBG materials.
“Synthetic diamond is an alternative that can address both performance and supply challenges as electric vehicle demand grows,” said Gauthier Chicot, CEO of Diamfab, a French startup developing the technology. “We’re already seeing supply shortages of SiC. Tesla announced less than two years ago that it was looking to reduce SiC usage in its vehicles to cut costs. New materials like synthetic diamonds can be a solution.”
Diamfab is focused on the epitaxial growth of doped layers using crystal growth processes and the manufacturing of high-performance components.
Another company developing synthetic diamond composite materials, Element Six (E6), launched its Cu-Diamond copper plated diamond material that is designed for high thermal and electrical conductivity late last year. The material could be a way to enable better performance and reliability for AI, high performance computing (HPC) and RF devices.
E6 said the need to manage heat dissipation has become a significant challenge with more than 50% of all electronic device failures being heat related. Power savings and heat dissipation are also critical for data centers, which are predicted to reach 10% of total U.S. power demand by 2029, making thermal management critical for performance/energy efficiency, the company said.
In automotive applications, specifically EVs, power demand will continue to be a critical issue to produce higher range cars and longer lasting batteries. With less energy losses, synthetic diamond chips could potentially be a solution.
Diamond advantages
According to Diamfab’s Chicot, one of the key advantages to synthetic diamond materials is its ability to withstand very high voltage due to its physical properties. Chicot said the material is 30 times better than silicon for high voltage, meaning chips would require 30 times less material thickness to hold the same voltage as that of silicon.
Heat dissipation, as E6 said, is five times better than copper. Power devices generate heat that must be dissipated to maintain performance. Generally, this means bulky cooling systems. Synthetic diamond materials effectively dissipate heat, allowing for a reduction in the size and weight of the converter by 80% compared to silicon and 60% compared to SiC, Chicot said.
This reduction in weight in a power conversion system impacts a vehicle’s energy consumption, braking power, safety systems and more.
Other benefits include:
- Improved energy conversion efficiency to 99%.
- Increased autonomy by nearly 10% without changing the battery.
- An estimated 10 times reduction in CO2 levels compared to SiC, 100,000 times less than silicon.
Synthetic diamond semiconductors are 30 times better than silicon for high voltage, meaning chips would require 30 times less material thickness to hold the same voltage as that of silicon. Source: Diamfab
Development timeline
Synthetic diamond technology is still in development. Diamfab said it is currently in the process of conducting R&D to improve the material and prepare for scalability. However, the company is demonstrating fabricated diamond electronic components and working with semiconductor vendors to collaborate on the R&D phase.
“We have already demonstrated the essential building blocks for synthesizing diamond and using it in electronic components,” Chicot said “Now, we need to continue improving the scalability of our technology so that it meets semiconductor industry standards, particularly regarding wafer size.”
Much of the interest, not surprisingly, comes from the automotive sector.
“There's no doubt that diamond semiconductors are of interest to automakers,” Chicot said. “It's a way to innovate and achieve efficient electrification. In Japan, Toyota announced just over a year ago that it was interested in diamonds, and we're also hearing signs of interest from European automakers.”
Other use cases
While the automotive sector is generally the initial application for synthetic diamond materials, other use cases may emerge.
Renewable energy is likely another target given the role power semiconductors already play in that market but there also appears to be interest in quantum computing and harsh environment electronics — like the space and nuclear sectors. Industrial sectors could also be a fit for the WBG material. Other use cases potentially include:
- Photonics
- High-temperature electronics
- Healthcare
- Optoelectronics
- RF and microwave devices
“We've only touched on a few of the many facets of diamond technology,” Chicot said. “Our vision goes beyond the automotive industry, including all sectors that can benefit from diamond as a semiconductor, and there are many.”
