Electrons in Diamond and Fundamental Properties

Diamond is a wide bandgap semiconductor with outstanding semiconductor properties that have long been recognized for high power and high-frequency applications. While p-type doping with boron has been well characterized for two decades, n-type doping with phosphorus has recently advanced in a number of laboratories and understanding Electrons in Diamond could enable a new generation of diamond devices based on electron transport and electron emission from conduction band states into vacuum.

The focus of this project is to establish the scientific basis for electrons in diamond through understanding electron injection and diamond-dielectric interfaces to enable electron transport, confinement, and surface electron emission. Three related questions will be addressed.
  1. Can electrons be transported into the conduction band of diamond?
  2. Can a dielectric-diamond interface be formed that confines electrons in diamond?
  3. Can a surface termination of diamond enable continued efficient electron emission into vacuum or water?