Rice University Researchers Unveil Novel Diamond Cooling Tech

New method allows for precise patterning of diamond surfaces to improve heat management in electronics

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Researchers at Rice University have developed a novel method for growing patterned diamond surfaces that can help decrease operating temperatures in electronics by up to 23 degrees Celsius. The process involves using microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition to grow diamond crystals in precise patterns on substrate wafers, allowing for better heat dissipation in high-power technologies like radar, 5G devices, and data center infrastructure.

Why it matters

Heat management is a major challenge for today's high-power electronics, limiting their performance and lifespan. Diamond is an excellent material for heat dissipation, but its hardness makes it difficult to work with. This new method provides a scalable way to integrate diamond cooling directly into electronic devices, which could lead to faster, more reliable, and longer-lasting technology.

The details

The researchers used two techniques to control the placement of diamond seeds on the substrate wafers - photolithography for small, detailed patterns, and laser-cutting of a film for larger wafers. The seeded wafers are then placed in a microwave plasma reactor where carbon atoms settle onto the seeds, building up the diamond layer by layer. This allows the researchers to control not just where the diamond grows, but also the size and structure of the diamond crystals.

  • The research was published in Applied Physical Letters on February 23, 2026.

The players

Xiang Zhang

Assistant research professor of materials science and nanoengineering at Rice University and a first author on the study.

Pulickel Ajayan

Rice's Benjamin M. and Mary Greenwood Anderson Professor of Engineering and professor of materials science and nanoengineering, who led the research group.

Yuji Zhao

Professor of electrical and computer engineering at Rice University and a co-corresponding author on the study.

Diamond Owl

The university's mascot that inspired the researchers to experiment with growing intricate diamond patterns.

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What they’re saying

“In the world of electronics, heat is the enemy. A reduction of 23 C is significant — it can extend the lifespan of a device and allow it to run faster without overheating.”

— Xiang Zhang, Assistant research professor of materials science and nanoengineering (Mirage News)

“This work demonstrates wafer-scale, selective diamond growth compatible with heterogeneous integration, enabling high-performance thermal management at device-relevant temperatures and layouts. By tackling heat — one of the fundamental limits on energy efficiency in AI accelerators and data-center electronics — it directly supports the CHIMES mission of advancing energy-efficient computing systems and packaging technologies.”

— Yuji Zhao, Professor of electrical and computer engineering (Mirage News)

What’s next

The researchers plan to focus on perfecting the interface between diamond and other materials to enable the development of next-generation high-power semiconductor devices.

The takeaway

This novel method for growing patterned diamond surfaces provides a scalable solution for integrating diamond-based cooling directly into high-power electronics, which could lead to faster, more reliable, and longer-lasting technology by overcoming the key challenge of heat management.