Scientists from the University of Glasgow have made a major breakthrough that could lead to a new generation of powerful and efficient electronic devices.
Their work focuses on creating better transistors using diamond, a material that can handle high voltages much better than the silicon used in most electronics today.
Transistors are tiny switches that control electricity in devices like computers and smartphones.
While these gadgets use billions of small transistors, high-power systems—like electric vehicles and power grids—require fewer but much stronger transistors.
The problem with previous diamond transistors was that they could either stay off well or deliver high power, but not both at the same time.
This made them difficult to use in real-world applications.
The research team, led by Professor David Moran from the University of Glasgow’s James Watt School of Engineering, solved this problem.
They developed a new type of diamond transistor that remains off by default, which is important for safety, but can also provide high power when switched on.
To do this, the team used a special surface treatment. They coated diamond with hydrogen atoms and added layers of aluminum oxide.
This improved how the transistor works, making it both more powerful and more energy-efficient. Their new transistor requires 6 volts to turn on—twice the voltage of older diamond transistors—while still delivering a strong electrical current when needed.
Another big achievement was reducing electricity loss when the transistor is off. The resistance of the new diamond transistor is so high that almost no current leaks through.
This makes it a safer and more reliable option for high-power applications.
This development is exciting because diamond transistors could be used in industries where efficiency and high voltage handling are crucial, such as in power grids and electric vehicles.
Despite being commonly associated with luxury jewelry, diamond can actually be produced at a relatively low cost, making it a promising material for future electronics.
Professor Moran believes that this research brings diamond transistors closer to practical use than ever before. However, there are still challenges to overcome before they can be mass-produced. The team hopes their work will help speed up the adoption of this technology across different industries in the coming years.
Their findings have been published in Advanced Electronic Materials and were achieved in collaboration with researchers from RMIT University in Australia and Princeton University in the U.S.
