RoomTemperatureSynthesis cool RoomTemperatureSynthesis We synthesize diamond at less than 100°C.
cool
SecondsorHours fast SecondsorHours Our vapor phase diamond films form at 1 mm/hour or faster. Our solid state synthesis is almost instantaneous.
fast
SemiconductorPurity pure SemiconductorPurity Our approach involves a direct chemical synthesis of diamond. Consequently, our diamond is spectroscopically pure.
pure

Diamond from Molecules

Conventional methods require high temperatures, and sometimes high pressures, to slowly build diamond films. We do it differently. We synthesize diamond from “tetrahedranoidal” molecules, which approximate the diamond tetrahedron, the smallest carbon atom assembly unit that can form diamond. We react a tetrahedranoidal compound with an excited state carbon atom in a thermodynamically driven reaction that yields ultra-pure diamond.

The Diamond Tetrahedron

The resulting diamond tetrahedron comprises five carbon atoms with a carbon atom at each apex and a carbon atom in the center (the “cage” position).

Diamond Unit Cell

Diamond Tetrahedron

Building Blocks of Diamond

Five tetrahedranoidal molecules that we can use in our process.

buildingblock1buildingblock2buildingblock3buildingblock4buildingblock4
  1. tetrahedrane (C4H4)
  2. benzvalene (C6H6)
  3. dihydro-benzvalene (C6H8)
  4. tetrahedranone (2,3,4-methynyl-cyclobutanone)–
  5. diazabenzvalene (2,3,4-methynyl-pyrazoline)–

Tetrahedranoidal compounds that are sterically unencumbered may be used as reactants with an excited state carbon atom to produce diamond.

Carbon Sourced from Cubane*

Carbon reacts with each of these tetrahedranoidal molecules to produce diamond. Cubane is our preferred carbon source: C:H ratio = 1; 166 kcal/mole strain energy.

cubane_web_090215

*While not currently used in CVD diamond production, cubane is a clean carbon atom source for chemical vapor deposition processes (diamond, metal carbides, etc.).

Making Diamond from Benzvalene

The following shows how we make diamond from benzvalene.
See our patents to learn more about the other compounds.

Vapor Phase

Benzvalene vapor is reacted with excited state atomic carbon at ambient conditions, kinetically limited only by the rate at which reactants are provided.

Solid State

Under ambient conditions, a homogeneous mixture of benzvalene and cubane is subjected to a high energy discharge to form solid diamond within seconds.