Even as other countries achieve similar technological milestones, they may still face obstacles in competing with China regarding manufacturing capabilities and costs.
High-power microwave weapons, radar, and communication devices can significantly increase efficiency after breakthroughs by Chinese researchers in semiconductor production. The secret lies in diamond, also known as the “optimal semiconductor material.”
Scientists have created gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductors with a diamond substrate, achieving a 30% higher energy density compared to any existing products.
The research team, led by Wang Yingmin, chief expert at the 46th Research Institute of the China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC), stated: “These new devices exhibit outstanding performance, including high power, high frequency, and extremely low energy consumption.”
This means that while other countries are still struggling with this technology in laboratories, China has resolved the production chain issues.
China dominates the global diamond industry, accounting for 95% of the world’s output. Last year alone, Chinese factories produced over 16 billion carats of synthetic diamonds, an astonishing figure equivalent to eight times the total known reserves of natural diamonds on Earth.
Once considered a rare and luxurious gemstone, diamond has undergone a transformation into a cost-effective industrial material in China. An uncut synthetic diamond can now retail for as little as $1 on some online stores in China. This price drop has paved the way for the application of diamonds in the chip industry.
China dominates the global diamond industry. (Photo: Shutterstock).
Diamond, known for being the material with the highest thermal conductivity in nature, has a thermal conductivity performance five times greater than that of conventional silicon carbide materials. Diamond also exhibits excellent physical and chemical stability, making it suitable for use in weapons and devices that typically operate in harsh environments.
Wang’s team noted in a paper published in the academic journal Semiconductor Technology: “These products have tremendous application potential in the next generation of solid-state microwave power devices.”
The breakthrough in high-performance diamond semiconductor manufacturing technology strengthens China’s advantage in high-tech industries, especially in communications. However, China is not without competitors. Japan’s Mitsubishi Electric announced in 2019 that it had developed diamond substrate gallium nitride HEMT devices in the laboratory, with plans for commercial production by 2025.
Nevertheless, even if other countries achieve similar technological advancements, they may still encounter challenges in competing with China regarding manufacturing capabilities and costs.
Diamond has been praised by some scientists as an “optimal semiconductor” due to its superior characteristics. It holds significant application potential in emerging fields such as next-generation processors and quantum computing.
The Chinese government has been planning and investing in the synthetic diamond industry for nearly two decades. In some provinces like Henan, large-scale production facilities have been established with capacities far exceeding current diamond demand. Some industry experts estimate that China could triple its diamond output if necessary.
