Project description
Advanced technology for lab-made diamonds
Diamonds represent a rare, luxury and expensive product used by both the high technology and jewellery industry. Diamonds are discovered underground in deep-earth mines, riverbeds and ocean floor. However, mining conditions raise ethical and environmental concerns that affect production. As a consequence, the diamond industry faces scarcity in raw materials. The EU-funded HEPHAESTUS project proposes a unique, environmentally friendly and cost-effective method of growing diamonds in the laboratory. The innovative method consists of placing diamond seeds in plasma chemical vapour deposition that transforms carbon-containing seeds into diamond. This advanced technology is based on a non-equilibrium microwave plasma-activated chemical reaction process that allows the growing of high-quality diamonds, targeting the finest jewellery market.
Objective
Diamonds form deep inside the Earth and they require extensive resources and time to discover. Naturally occurring diamonds can be found through open-pit or underground deep-earth mining or in riverbeds and ocean floor. Diamonds have fantastic properties allowing various tech and high-tech applications in the industry. They can also be used in the luxury business for their beauty, quality, cut and colours. But mined diamonds are a finite resource considering the extreme and rare occurrence of natural surroundings in which it can be formed so that the whole diamond industry now faces depletion of raw materials.
DIAM CONCEPT leverages 30 years of research in the fields of plasma physics at CNRS LSPM related to diamond growth in laboratory. Growing diamonds in lab consists in placing small diamond seeds in highly controlled environment where the diamonds grow layer-by-layer. Plasma enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition is based on high temperature and low-pressure whereby the plasma, generated by excitation of the gases through microwaves activation, leads to transformation of carbon containing species into diamond. DIAM CONCEPT is pushing forward the state of the art so as to be able to grow thick diamonds of the purest form known to man. The technology is based on a non-equilibrium microwave plasma-activated chemical reaction process in a large resonant cavity operating at 915 MHz. This process allows to grow colourless >VS1 Type IIA diamonds and adresses the finest jewellery market. Our diamond will be branded as symbol of modern love by representing the incredible progression of technology.
DIAM CONCEPT ambitions to become a leading manufacturer of lab-grown diamonds for jewelry and we have already settled partnerships with 6 top jewellers that are to be enlarge to 10 top jewellers. On the opposite to mined diamonds, our lab-grown diamonds are ethical, respective of environment, have a low carbon impact (around 80 kg/carat), guarantee of origin and cost-efficient.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1Coordinator
75116 PARIS
France
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.