Rocks and Rolls

Rolls-Royce is working with engineers at University College London to create diamond transistors that will be able to withstand the intense heat inside the next generation of jet engines.

The university’s school of electronic and electrical engineering is leading the project, which aims to develop bipolar switches that can operate at temperatures above 400°C. The work could also lead to diamond-based electronic systems able to work in other extreme environments, such as nuclear reactors.

Cambridgeshire-based semiconductor specialist CamSemi and Element Six — the division of De Beers that develops industrial diamonds — are also members of the research consortium.

The project is being driven by the requirements of Rolls-Royce, which needs switches that will operate inside its planned ‘more-electric’ engines, scheduled to be ready within 10–12 years. These engines will use more electronics and fewer mechanical or hydraulic systems.

According to UCL’s Dr Richard Jackman, who is leading the research, the thrust towards additional electronics will bring numerous advantages to the aerospace industry.