LGDinTECH Insights: Episode 3

Dr. Wuyi Wang: [00:00:00]
I am Dr. Wan, vice President of Research and Development in GIA. One of my main research interests is to study. Analyze latest defects in Diamond. I’ve been working in GIA since 2000.

Dr. Ulrika D’Haenens-Johansson:
Hi, I’m Dr. Ika Hanson, the senior manager of Diamond Research at GIA, and I’ve been studying all the different aspects of diamond defects for the past 20 years.

Dr. Daniel Jones:
Hello, uh, my name’s uh, Dr. Daniel Jones. I’m a research scientist here at GIA and I’ve been studying Diamond in particular lab grown diamonds for 11 years.

Liz Chatelain:
And I’m Liz Chatline, and this is LGD and Tech Insight Podcast, GIA. Gemological Institute of America was established in 1931 [00:01:00] and is the world’s premier authority on diamond.

GIA is a nonprofit with a global presence and is the leading source of knowledge, standards, and education in the area of Diamond. So we’re really fortunate today to have their three leading scientists here to talk about Diamond, focusing on diamond material for technology, and just educating us more about Diamond itself.

So let’s start. Lead scientist wwe briefly tell us why GIA is launching testing and metrology division for technical grade grown Diamond

Dr. Wuyi Wang: [00:02:00]
GI is a award leading institute in diamond research and a laboratory services for both natural and lab grown diamonds. We have over 60 years experience studying lab grown diamonds.
Starting actually from the very first HPH synthetic Diamonds by General Electric, which work ready and analyzed by GIA to support global jewelry industry. CIA has built up extensive instrumentations and expertise in diamond analysis and hematology. We know different advances in diamond successes technologies.

The expanded avail availability in last two decades means that diamonds are now on the verge of widespread implementation for technological applications, and there is a need to know diamond properties accurately, such as the impurities and defects. She is excited to help to support its new stage. [00:03:00]

Liz Chatelain:
What pain points in today’s diamond for tech ecosystem does this solve first?

Dr. Ulrika D’Haenens-Johansson:
So GIA is uniquely situated with its expertise in both natural and laboratory grown diamond analysis to provide a service to the industry. Many producers are trying to pivot towards growing diamonds for technological applications that notably have very different requirements. Most technological applications rely on the tailoring of properties of the material by careful defect.

Engineering diamonds may, for instance, need to be ultra high purity with nitrogen concentrations below certain thresholds, or conversely, desirable defects may be produced through controlled doping with or without subsequent treatment. The analysis of point and extended defects in diamond materials is the basis for GIS diamond identification criteria.

Therefore, we can provide a method for the industry to gain valuable insight into their material, [00:04:00] supporting a feedback loop for recipe development as they work towards meeting key specifications, as well as probing the homogeneity and reproducibility of their sounds.

Liz Chatelain:
Very interesting, very. And the industries now.

Our multiple industries, obviously for tech, we’re really focused. Our, our group is focused on the 10 top industries, which includes aerospace, defense, high powered electronics, uh, laser systems, medical devices, uh, microwave optics, photonics.

Um, quantum of course, and semiconductors. So there’s a lot of industries that you, you and the group at GIA are going to be interfacing with. It’s very exciting times for everyone. Definitely. Hui, let’s come back to you.

How does the initiative relate to GIA a’s mission of being a public benefit to trust the trade now? [00:05:00] Applying this to, you know, semi quantum medical, you know, which I just mentioned, that whole list.

Dr. Wuyi Wang:
Our current focus in GIA has been on diamonds for jewelry industry, but our expertise and equipment in diamond analysis and uh, associated defects allow us to enter this emerging field with confidence.

For Diamond materials to reach their full technological potential with clear benefits to the public, the industry requires a solid foundation and an understanding of the properties of their products. Trust obviously is the key to any analytics service under the GIA has a reputation built on trust.

Internal [00:06:00] processes are set up to ensure unbiased and calibrated measurements are made by scientists who have in, um, paralleled understanding of diameter physics and the scientific ology.

Liz Chatelain:
Hmm. Very true, very true. I mean, we’ve interfaced with GIA for decades and you are. Basically, you, you are the premier institution around the world, and all your offices and labs really, uh, have helped the entire gem industry.

So now switching to tech, I, I think they can expect the same type of high quality, you know, interface and research and maybe training in the future. So it’s, it’s gonna help everyone. Just as a follow up question, um, what unique capabilities. Or, um, neutrality Does GIA have that this market doesn’t have so far [00:07:00] the tech market?

Dr. Wuyi Wang:
Well, to serve the global jewelry industry in particular to separate natural diamonds from treated natural diamonds and to separate the natural diamonds from lab grown, from synthetic diamonds. We NGI have an and revealed combination of equipment ranging from microscope, from spectroscopy, or under one root, providing an multifaceted approach to understand not just the properties of the samples, but also the evolution of the product.

We have a team of a PhD level scientist such as Dr. And Dr. Jones, who specifically hold PhDs in diamond physics, as well as postdoc [00:08:00] fellows, research associates, research technicians and engineers who contact mobile research and develop various instrumentations.

Liz Chatelain:
Well, all of that is gonna be much needed by all these different industries.
So back to you for a second, Arika. So what specific testing and metrology services will be available at launch and then in the near term coming up, let’s say in the next year or two?

Dr. Ulrika D’Haenens-Johansson:
So with Diamond, we’re not always striving for perfection. We like to think of Diamond as being a perfect material, but at GIA, we are truly passionate about the defense.
They’re what make them interesting to us. Defects may sound like a bad thing, uh, but they’re the foundation of many of the technological applications for this material. For instance, the Nitrogen Vacancy Center has attracted enormous attention due to its potential uses in quantum sensing and communication.

And GIA has a suite of [00:09:00] techniques to probe the presence, absence relative concentrations, and distributions of both point and extended defects in diamond. So obviously please do contact us if you want to receive a full summary of our, uh, capabilities. I’m just gonna touch upon a few of these, uh, now.
So defects in diamond can interact with incident light through a variety of processes which can allow their detection.

For instance, several defects in diamond, result in absorption in the UV, visible and infrared range and spectroscopic methods. May those reveal their presence and concentrations. Absorption spectroscopy is key for evaluating diamond for optical transmission applications. Incident light may also excite defects who then emit light known as luminescence.

We can detect these defects through high sensitivity spectroscopic techniques, such as photo luminescence, as well as deep UV fluorescence imaging, which can reveal their distributions and the intrinsic growth patterns and materials. [00:10:00] Secondly, we have electron paramagnetic resonance or electron spin resonance, which is sensitive to defects in diamond with unpaired electrons including isolated nitrogen.

Now, this is a key measurement for ultra high purity diamond, and we routinely use EPR at GIA to quantify nitrogen concentrations below one part per billion Adams PPB lows, so very, very high sensitivity. And then these materials can obviously be further characterized using optical microscopy under a range of different lighting conditions.
Imaging between cross Polaroid light provides a root for strain visualization and then differential interference. Contrast imaging and scanning electron microscopy reveal topographic information.
So by combining all of these different techniques, we get a a, a really. Thorough representation of the quality of the material and, and the, the defects that are present within, so we get the full story through this.

Liz Chatelain:
That’s amazing. So you have all this equipment now to be able to do this. Are [00:11:00] they located in all your laboratories around the world?

Dr. Ulrika D’Haenens-Johansson:
So a lot of the key, key, uh, features of absorption spectroscopy for luminescence, uh, techniques like that, imaging techniques we have scattered across the globe. Certain, uh, more specialized techniques such as electron paramagnetic resonance, or the scanning electron microscopy, those are located in the United States.

Liz Chatelain:
That’s great. So in a couple of years, what are you looking forward to adding to your, your abilities?

Dr. Ulrika D’Haenens-Johansson:
Well, really the sky’s limit. It depends on, on how this, this program develops. If there is a need, we will adapt towards it.

Liz Chatelain:
Terrific, terrific. I’m sure there’s a lot of, uh, engineers and, uh, design techs out there hoping to hear that answer.

Daniel, you’re not getting off the hook. Let’s, let’s ask you a few questions. So, GIA has a instrument development department. What capabilities do they contribute to this effort that Areka was just explaining. [00:12:00]

Dr. Daniel Jones:
So, um, most my colleagues have, uh, previously, uh, discussed. Diamond is a unique material with many challenges for characterization.
Depending on the application, whether that be for a thermal solution, quantum sensing, or the biomedical field, custom instrumentation is required to. Accurate and detailed information about these specific characteristics.

This is also the case for CIA’s testing of Diamonds of Gemstone, where bespoke instruments have been developed by our in-house instrumentation group, by a team of engineers and scientists.

To that end, we have developed unique capabilities in mapping the distribution of diamond defects. Since homogeneity is important for certain applications, such as quantum sensing or optical window transparency, we have developed a high resolution three-dimensional hyperspectral imaging system, which non-destructively measures the distribution of photo luminescence defects, such as the NV sensor within a dining room volume. [00:13:00]

And this is of particular importance to growers or application specialists, which wants to exploit the unique properties of Diamond for a specific application where spatial distribution is important.

So in the following image, this is an example dataset full of three-dimensional hyperspectral imaging system that we have developed at GIA.
And what you are seeing here is four cross sections showing the, uh. Total stone and then different cross sections following either the X, Y, X, Z or YZ planes.
And what this is showing does is the evolution of this CVD diamond as it grew.

This is sort, is very difficult to see with other techniques and um, the colors basically how corresponds to different.
Defects within the diamond corresponding to different events. For instance, the red color is associated with growth interruptions, whereas the green color is the CVD diamond that was grown on top of [00:14:00] each substrate, which here is shown in blue. At each pixel, we have a high resolution spectra, which allow us to characterize the emitting defects in this volume.

The following video shows how this diamond evolved in the reactor, the step flow growth as this is causing a CVD reactor, um, incorporating different concentrations of, uh, defects. Uh, as this diamond grew with varying conditions, we are seeing this growing up from the substrates into the reactor, uh, plasma itself.

Growers need to be able to understand how their growth regime morphs over time during growth, and how that changes the corporation of defects, in particular nitrogen when growing pure materials.

It becomes much more obvious when reactor conditions are changing, and this technique can help in understanding which changes are reported to monitor and avoid joint synthesis. [00:15:00]

A significantly less measured property of photo essence is this lifetime, which you can think of as the time it takes for light to be emitted from the defect after excitation from the light source.

This is useful as it can be used to evaluate the concentration of paired nitrogen acid, the diamond, something typically only possible with absorption at relatively high concentrations.

Any facility which has this capability typically can perform it on bulk samples with no localization, with the rarer ability to measure these, uh, as localized points.
However, in GIA, we have developed the ability to measure this lifetime property in a three dimensional volume to create localized 3D maps of this concentration.
We are also expanding our capabilities to include absorption and ramen mapping key for evaluating the optical transparency and stream properties across flights for wafers in high resolution.

A particularly useful instrument that we’ve also developed in-house is a diamond [00:16:00] inscription device capable of marking the diamond, which is applications in writing, sample identification directly onto the surface of a diamond.

Liz Chatelain:
Explain to us what can be used on single crystal or nano krysttal or poly Krystal diamond wafers.

Dr. Daniel Jones:
We routinely evaluate single crystal diamonds produced for gem applications. Whether they eat natural or lab grow, they often have varying shapes and sizes where we can handle a variety of facet geometries and sizes from sub millimeter to much larger samples.

Some of our diagnostic inks are also suited for investigating other forms of diamonds such as nano microbe and polys Lang Diamond. [00:17:00]

Liz Chatelain:
Okay. Okay, great, great. Because the growers out there now are growing both, and they’re all trying to reach larger sizes. So this is, this is gonna be very important to them.
So just as a follow up question then, what kind of samples are best to start with? For meaning meaningful baseline evaluation? What should people be sending you?

Dr. Daniel Jones:
So representative CVD or H-H-V-H-T blocks or plates are typically the easiest to measure when using bulk analysis methods.

The sample may lead to need certain specifications such as substrate removal, CVD, grown diamond, or single sectors from high pressure, high temperature diamond.
We will work directly with the clients to clarify these specifications to help ensure a smooth workflow.

Liz Chatelain:
Let’s go back to G’S basic service, which is sometimes producing reports. What will your tech diamond reports look like? Will they have executive summaries? I mean, what? What are you visualizing here? [00:18:00]

Dr. Ulrika D’Haenens-Johansson:
So when it comes to gem diamonds, certainly we’ve had, uh, standardized reports for, for many, many decades.
But for this particular program, at this stage, we’re interested in working with the producers and the application specialists to generate the information that they require.

Each application focuses on different characteristics. They’re evaluated by different tests, so really a one size fits all approach is not feasible at this stage.
This is an exploratory program that will be bespoke with a catalog of techniques for consideration, and then a summary will highlight that key properties and features as requested.
And the raw data, be it spectra or images, will be provided as an appendix.

Liz Chatelain:
Okay. Okay. So that’s good. And it’s repeatable. I mean, that’s the whole purpose, right? Is that you can evaluate a couple of diamonds or a million diamonds eventually.

Exactly. Okay. Woo wee. Let’s get back to you for a minute. Um, what’s the initial intake volume? I know I just threw out the number of a million, and someday you’re gonna get there, but what do you think the, for this program, what do you think your initial intake volume is gonna be?
And what, what kind [00:19:00] of turnaround time can your clients assume?

Dr. Wuyi Wang:
Well, in GIA we have, uh, 10 N Trees Nav all over the world.
Uh, actually every year we test millions of diamonds anyway.

Um, for this service, we have a flexible capacity. I think we can easily support analysis of times to hundreds of diamond samples.
That shouldn’t be a problem. It’s really depending upon what the analysis is to be performed. The turnaround time, I think, is about one to two weeks, generally speaking.

Liz Chatelain:
Okay. Okay. That’s good. That’s good. So as a follow up then, what will be the pilot program and the, you know, what’s, what’s this pilot program gonna look like?
Is there, um, you know, what’s the pricing? Are you assuming and. Is there a [00:20:00] academic discounting going on? You know, can startups have, um, some type of, uh, discount to help support their development of the use of diamond material? What are you, what are you thinking?

Dr. Wuyi Wang:
Yeah, I think we will start with a pilot program, um, making it easy for our clients.

The fee structure have not been, uh, finalized yet. We’ll include a, a discounted fees structure. At the beginning, um, we was support academic research with flexibilities.

Liz Chatelain:
That’s terrific. I’m sure they’re gonna appreciate that. And for growers and OEMs listening to this podcast, what’s the simplest next step to engage with Gaia’s new service?

Dr. Wuyi Wang:
I think that please just simply contact with me directly. Uh, that probably the easiest way to get a [00:21:00] discussion started.
You can also contact with Ika who, Daniel or other scientists in GI research department.

I also can contact with our HGI customer service or even contact cantelli share management.
Either way is fine, but I think the simplest way is just cantelli me directly for now.

Liz Chatelain:
Okay. Okay. Then we’re gonna share your email address.

Dr. Wuyi Wang:
Yes, please.

Liz Chatelain:
So this, this has been terrific. Do you guys have any additional statements or information that we haven’t touched on that you’d like to share with the audience?

Dr. Ulrika D’Haenens-Johansson:
The, the reason that, that we’re so excited about these developments is that they’re not just pretty pictures.

As Daniel mentioned, each pixel has a full spectrum. You don’t just say, oh, it’s glowing this color. You can actually say why it’s glowing. You’re, you’re understanding the defect structure within the bristle, and you’re doing this non-destructively.

You don’t have to cut up your sample. You can just sort of scan through the material and see what’s present inside.

Dr. Daniel Jones:
And this is something uniquely [00:22:00] generated at GIA.
This is, uh, a purpose built instrument which is unique in the world, something that only we have access to.

Liz Chatelain:
Thanks to everyone, this has been really informative.

I know everyone in the diamond material industry is very excited that GIA is taking the lead here and being able to service. What basically we all needed, which is metrology and testing and, you know, really putting the, the, um, uniformity together that we need, that everyone can rely on.
And, you know, because of g’s, you know, multi-year background of being a worldwide specialist in diamond.

And, uh, you know, having the public trust, it’s really the perfect institution to take this on. So I know that a lot of people in the tech industry are very excited about this.
I wanted to thank all everyone [00:23:00] on the call today and to all of our listeners, thank you for listening. And if you want, again, to contact GIA, simply go to their website.
And look up Diamond, um, research. Look up GIA research. You can find Dr. WWE there and you can email ’em directly.

Um, they’re all open to receiving, you know, interesting, um, emails about people who wanna know more, who wanna start using the service. Who, who basically don’t know maybe where they should be concentrating on preparing for the service.

So all of that can be answered. It’s going into its test program right now, the pilot program. So I know that they’d be very excited to hear from you.
And you should join LGD and Tech Consortium. So LGD and Tech is now going into its third year. We have members all over the world, including GIA. Everyone who’s working with diamond [00:24:00] material in the area of technology should join LGD and Tech.

Please visit our website, lgdintech.org and thank you for viewing.