Diamond is one of the most versatile materials on earth, with applications in thermal, optical, sensing, electrochemistry and quantum.
The world we live in today presents a variety of technical challenges, each associated to different industrial applications, such as thermal management bottlenecks in internet and telecommunication infrastructures, as well as industrial wastewater management and disposal.
Over the last few years, diamond has been recognised as a reliable solution in many of these fields, while also unlocking novel applications in quantum technology as well as material machining and welding using high-power lasers.
The eight business-led Prosperity Partnerships were announced in support of the government’s ambitious new Innovation Strategy. They are supported with an investment of almost £60 million by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), businesses and universities.
This Prosperity Partnership builds on an existing partnership between University of Warwick and Element Six to develop highly sensitive, fibre optic linked diamond quantum sensors for medical and industrial uses, such as the detection of heart disease or of structural weakness in steel pipelines.
The £5.2M project, a partnership between the Departments of Physics, Chemistry and Engineering at the University of Warwick and Element Six, aims to establish a supply chain for these vital technologies, which will help researchers and businesses to capitalise on the potential of high-quality, engineered synthetic diamonds to deliver new, disruptive solutions across a range of industries, including semiconductors, water technology and quantum.
Dr. Daniel Twitchen, chief technologist at Element Six said, “Leveraging nearly 20 years of successful collaboration, ranging from fundamental science to commercialised applications, our partnership with the University of Warwick aims to build on the U.K.’s world-leading role in this field, alongside Element Six’s renowned expertise and capabilities in advanced material solutions, to develop the next generation of diamond-enabled technologies”.
Prof. Mark Newton of the University of Warwick, said, “The project outcomes will include new materials with improved and tailored properties, new science enabled by enhanced properties and the ability to manufacture innovative diamond devices.”