Research advances diamond transistors for high-power applications

Their new diamond transistor is claimed to overcome the limitations of previous developments in the technology to create a device much closer to being of practical use across a range of industries that rely on high power systems.

The team has found a new way to use diamond as the basis of a transistor that remains switched off by default - a development that ensures safety in devices that carry a large amount of electrical current when switched on.

Diamond has a wide band gap and can handle much higher voltages than silicon - the material most transistors are made from - before electrically breaking down. In power electronic applications, transistors made from materials such as diamond can withstand significantly higher voltages and deliver higher power than Si transistors.

The team said its diamond transistor could find applications in sectors where largely voltages are required and efficiency is highly-valued, like power grids or electric vehicles.