New diamond transistor is a world-1st — paving the way for high-speed computing at the highest temperatures

Researchers in Japan have created the first "n-channel" diamond-based transistor, inching us closer to processors that can operate at super-high temperatures. This eliminates the need for direct cooling and increases the range of environments where processors can operate.

By using diamond in a transistor — electrical switches that flip between 1 and 0 when voltage is applied — the research opens up the prospect of electronics that are smaller, faster and more power-efficient. 

They can also work in much harsher environments than conventional components — operating in temperatures above 572 degrees Fahrenheit (300 degrees Celsius) rather than the typical transistor's limit of 212 degrees Fahrenheit (100 degrees Celsius) — and can endure much higher voltages before breaking down. 

The scientists detailed their findings in a paper published Jan. 19 in the journal Advanced Science. 

Silicon transistors have been used to make processors since the early 1960s, but it's reaching its physical limitations as the size of the manufacturing process (as low as 3 nanometers) approaches the 0.2-nanometer width of silicon atoms. 

There are several different types of transistors out there, but the most commonly used is metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET), with "metal-oxide-semiconductor" referring to the silicon wafer of a conventional computer chip. 

Within MOSFETs, there are different configurations too — referred to as n-channel and p-channel. N-channel transistors use electrons to carry charge while p-channel transistors use "holes" — that is, in greatly simplified terms, the gaps left behind by escaped electrons. N-channel transistors are commonly found in high-side power switches to protect batteries.