Editor’s Note
This article explores the science behind lab-grown diamonds, tracing their development from the 18th-century discovery that diamond is pure carbon to the mid-20th-century technological breakthroughs that enabled their successful synthesis.
According to Science China, diamond is a mineral composed of pure carbon and is the hardest substance in nature. After it was confirmed in the 18th century that diamond is composed of pure carbon, research on synthetic diamonds began. However, real success and rapid development were only achieved in the 1950s with advancements in high-pressure research and experimental techniques.
Lab-grown diamonds (also known as synthetic or man-made diamonds) are synthetic diamonds of gemstone quality, possessing the same physical properties as natural diamonds.
Unlike the “natural formation” of natural diamonds, lab-grown diamonds are “cultivated” in laboratories. According to Li Jianhua, Chief Technical Engineer of the Diamond Division of Huanghe Whirlwind, lab-grown diamonds are currently primarily produced through two methods: High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) and Microwave Plasma Chemical Vapor Deposition (MPCVD). Among these, HPHT is one of the more traditional diamond synthesis methods. Using high-purity graphite as the main raw material, it is assembled with catalysts and other materials into a synthesis block. This block is then placed into a cubic press, where temperature and pressure are adjusted. Under high temperature and high pressure conditions, the carbon atom structure of graphite rearranges to form diamond crystals.
On October 16, Henan Liliang Diamond Co., Ltd. announced at the 15th China Henan International Investment & Trade Fair that it had cultivated a 156.47-carat diamond rough using the HPHT method. Certified by the International Gemological Institute (IGI), this diamond is the world’s largest known single-crystal lab-grown diamond, breaking the previous world record of 150.42 carats set by MeylorGlobal in 2022.
Securities Daily explains that large single-crystal diamonds are mainly used to make diamond drill bits, cutting tools, dressers, and other tools, widely applied in ultra-precision machining of non-ferrous metals, optical flat mirrors, chip wafers, and grinding wheel dressing.
Simultaneously, diamond itself is a semiconductor material.
Currently, semiconductor materials have developed to the fourth generation. Data shows that fourth-generation semiconductor materials refer to those with ultra-wide bandgaps, capable of withstanding harsh environments like high voltage, high temperature, and high radiation.
Diamond has a bandgap of about 5.5eV, the highest performance among fourth-generation materials, and is regarded as the “ultimate semiconductor material.” It possesses excellent thermal conductivity—13 times that of silicon, 4 times that of silicon carbide, and 4 to 5 times that of copper and silver—making it suitable for high-frequency, high-power, high-temperature electronic devices.
In high-power scenarios, “heat dissipation” and “voltage resistance” are two core challenges. Traditional silicon devices are prone to thermal runaway under high voltage and high current, and while silicon carbide offers improvements, it still cannot meet the demands of next-generation high-power equipment. The ultra-high thermal conductivity and excellent breakdown field strength of diamond semiconductors are precisely the key to solving these challenges.
According to China Securities Journal, diamond cooling solutions have broad potential in high-performance electronic products. In the future, every computer, car, and mobile phone could potentially use diamond materials. In the semiconductor field, “diamond cooling” technology could triple the computing power of GPUs and CPUs, reduce temperature by 60%, lower energy consumption by 40%, and save data centers millions of dollars in cooling costs.
Furthermore, in quantum computing, color centers in diamond, especially nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers, can serve as quantum bits (qubits) due to their unique quantum properties, performing operations in quantum computing. Secondly, diamond color centers offer extremely high quantum manipulation precision, which is crucial for building high-performance quantum computers. Quantum bits in diamond can also operate at room temperature, contrasting with many other quantum computing platforms that require extremely low temperatures, helping to reduce the complexity and cost of quantum computing systems.
According to Xinhua News Agency, the lab-grown diamond industry has garnered significant attention in recent years. Data from market research firm Fortune Business Insights shows that the global lab-grown diamond market size is expected to grow from $25.89 billion in 2024 to $74.45 billion by 2032.
China’s lab-grown diamond market also shows strong development momentum. According to the “2024 China Jewelry Industry Development Report” released by the China Gems & Jewelry Trade Association, China’s total import and export value of lab-grown diamond rough in 2024 was $122.96 million, a year-on-year increase of 82.11%; the total import and export value of finished lab-grown diamonds was $194.60 million, a year-on-year increase of 78.09%.
Public data shows that China’s single-crystal diamond output accounts for about 95% of the global total, firmly ranking first in the world, with Henan province accounting for 80% of China’s synthetic diamond output. In the lab-grown diamond field, China’s production capacity accounts for about 50% of the global total, with 80% of that being “Made in Henan.”
However, several industry insiders have also reminded that the challenges facing the industry’s development cannot be ignored.
