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Metallization of diamond

MetadataDetails
Publication Date2020-10-05
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
AuthorsZhe Shi, Ming Dao, Evgenii Tsymbalov, Alexander V. Shapeev, Ju Li
InstitutionsNanyang Technological University, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology
Citations46

Significance Identifying the conditions for complete metallization of diamond solely through mechanical strain is an important scientific objective and technological demonstration. Through quantum mechanical calculations, continuum mechanics simulations validated by experiments, and machine learning, we show here that reversible metallization can be achieved in diamond deformed below threshold elastic strain levels for failure or phase transformation. The general method outlined here for deep elastic strain engineering is also applicable to map the strain conditions for indirect-to-direct bandgap transitions. Our method and findings enable extreme alterations of semiconductor properties via strain engineering for possible applications in power electronics, optoelectronics, and quantum sensing.