Diamond chips

The world's smallest diamond transistor could pave the way for a new generation of electronics.

Developed by an EPSRC-supported team at the University of Glasgow, the length of the transistor’s ‘gate’ is just 50 nanometres – 1,000 times smaller than the thickness of a human hair. The smaller the gate the faster the transistor works.

The Glasgow device is half the size of the previous smallest diamond transistor, developed in Japan.

Diamond has been heralded as an ideal material for the next generation of nanoscale electronics and its ability to operate in adverse weather and temperature conditions could lead to a new wave of devices from safer medical scanners to anti-collision technology in cars.

Dr David Moran, who led the Glasgow team, said: “From its invention in 1947, the transistor has been the building block of many modern day technologies, from silicon based chips in your computer, to gallium arsenide based circuits in your mobile phones.

“These types of materials – silicon and gallium arsenide – are chosen upon what their strengths and weaknesses are. Diamond on the other hand is very much an excellent all-round performer and has been described by many as a perfect material.”

Diamond transistor technology could lead to the development of new technologies such as terahertz (T-ray) imaging.T-ray imaging devices can penetrate clothes and flesh but the radiation is non-ionising and does not damage cells, so could provide safer security or medical scans.

Diamond transistors could also aid the development of automotive collision devices – radar technology that would allow cars to detect imminent collisions and take evasive action.

Dr Moran said: “These applications require very fast and ideally high-powered transistor technology that needs to operate in adverse weather and temperature conditions.

This is where diamond transistor technology would excel.”