Diamond, a crystalline form of carbon, is renowned for its hardness, transparency, and thermal conductivity. Beyond gemstones, its properties shaped by impurities and defects make it crucial in various scientific and industrial applications. Diamond… Continue reading

Diamond, a crystalline form of carbon, is renowned for its hardness, transparency, and thermal conductivity. Beyond gemstones, its properties shaped by impurities and defects make it crucial in various scientific and industrial applications. Diamond's unique properties are influenced by impurities, classifying it into Type I (nitrogen-rich) and Type II (nitrogen-poor or boron-doped). Type Ia (98% of natural diamonds) contains nitrogen aggregates, while Type Ib (rare naturally, common synthetically) has isolated nitrogen atoms. Type IIa diamonds are nearly nitrogen-free and highly pure, and Type IIb contain trace boron, giving them a blue hue and electrical conductivity.
Type I diamonds serve in jewelry and industry, while Type IIa and IIb are key to advanced optical, thermal, electronic, and quantum applications, highlighting diamond’s broad versatility across fields.

References:
1. Xie et al., Sci. Adv. 2021; 7.
2. S. Castelletto et al. Nanophotonics 1:139–153.

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