Cool the AI chip with diamonds! World's first 200mm monocrystalline diamond wafer unveiled

Fast Technology November 10th news, the United States Silicon Valley CVD cultivated diamond manufacturer Diamond Foundry recently announced that after 25 years of research and development, the company has produced the world's first single-crystal diamond wafer with a diameter of 200 mm.

The thermal conductivity of this material is at least 5 times higher than that of copper, and it will be used to dissipate heat from high-performance processor hotspots in the future to alleviate the growing heat dissipation problem of high-end chips.

It is known that the thermal conductivity of single crystal diamond can reach more than 2000 W/(m · K), while copper is about 400 W/(m · K). In addition to higher thermal conductivity, diamond itself is also a natural electrical insulator, which can reduce the risk of short circuit at the same time.

In contrast, polycrystalline materials are composed of many small crystals, whose internal grain boundaries hinder heat conduction, and the single crystal structure is therefore more advantageous in heat dissipation scenarios.

Diamond Foundry said that the technology is mainly aimed at hot spots where the heat accumulates inside the processor and the temperature rises abnormally. Integrating diamonds directly into the processor package allows for a more even distribution of heat, which supports higher clock frequencies, reduces energy losses, and extends the life of the chip.

However, the wafer has not yet reached commercial conditions, and it still needs to undergo further refining and verification processes. Diamond Foundry also pointed out that due to the extremely high cost of single-crystal diamonds, the initial stage is mainly for relatively insensitive areas such as AI chips.

The company plans to launch a 300mm diameter wafer by 2030. This size is consistent with the mainstream specifications of most current wafer fabs and will facilitate integration with existing lithography systems.

The timing, yield, and pricing of Diamond Foundry's listing are not disclosed.

Source: MyDrivers (Fast Technology). Content is presented with source attribution. Read the original report.