Project R-16624

DiaPatterning. (Research)

The DiaPatterning project focuses on transferring advanced microfabrication technologies into the field of high-pressure scientific instrumentation. The aim is to fabricate robust microscopic electrical and insulating structures directly onto 3d diamond surfaces used in extreme-pressure experiments. Diamond anvil cells are widely used to study materials under pressures comparable to those deep inside planets. However, reliable electrical connections inside these systems remain a major challenge, as conventional microscopic wires often fail under compression, temperature cycling, or mechanical stress. The project develops a fabrication workflow combining surface treatment, lithography, and thin-film deposition to create durable microstructures directly on complex three-dimensional diamond geometries. By integrating these structures directly onto the diamond surface, the technology transforms the diamond anvil into an active experimental platform. This improves reliability, reduces preparation complexity, increases reproducibility, and enables advanced experiments in superconductivity, quantum materials, and high-pressure transport measurements.

17 February 2026 - 16 August 2028