Diamond chips will help China overcome the US in electronic war: where they will be applied

Powerful microwave weapons, radars and communication devices can get a significant productivity increase due to the new invention of Chinese researchers in semiconductors. The secret lies in diamonds - they have been used as a Galium nitride (GAN). As a result, the devices reached a power density of 30% higher than any of the available chips.

According to scientists, if diamond semiconductors are widespread, they will be able to expand the capabilities of NVAC, increasing the capacity of communication, the range of radars and means of radio electronic struggle (HRS), which will give the military advantage in the electronic war.

It is worth noting that some experts have proclaimed diamonds "perfect semiconductor" material because of their wonderful properties and huge potential for use in new industries, such as next generation processors and quantum computers. Transistors with high electron mobility (HEMT) are key components of modern radars and microwave weapons. Such chips are capable of generating high -frequency and powerful electromagnetic waves.

However, a serious problem with GAN is its tendency to produce a significant amount of heat during operation. As a result, in practice, these devices can reach only 20-30% of their theoretical productivity, which is far from their maximum efficiency potential. Scientists have found that the physico-chemical properties of GAN and diamond are completely different, which complicates their strong connection. For example, if glued, the efficiency of heat removal will be significantly reduced.

However, the developers have applied a new approach - they literally raised diamonds on gallium nitride. Initially, they placed a diamond crumb on the surface of the nitride of the gallium and affected both substances by low temperatures and low pressure. Then they increased the temperature and pressure to grow a high quality diamond crystal layer in a centimeter.

Through careful experiments, Chinese scientists and engineers have improved this process by suppressing the formation of impurities and making it possible a large-scale production of high quality HEMT devices based on gallium nitride with a diamond substrate. The breakthrough in the technology of production of highly productive diamond semiconductors will be able to strengthen the PRC confidence in that it has some advantage in the electronic war.

As noted earlier, diamond chips can qualitatively change communication. However, competitors do not need to do: the Japanese company Mitsubishi Electric intends to start the commercial production of HEMT devices based on a gallium nitride with a diamond lining in 2025. The United States also develop a similar technology. But even if other countries reach similar heights in developments, they will not be able to compete with the PRC in terms of production facilities and costs.

However, the Chinese government has been investing in the artificial diamond industry for almost two decades. In some provinces, such as Henan, large -scale production bases have been created, the capacity of which is much higher than the current demand for this material. But if necessary, China can triple diamond production. Earlier, we wrote that the United States is forcing chip manufacturers to leave China massively.