Magnetron sputtering technology helps diamond surfaces be coated with molybdenum

On April 25, 2023, a well-known scientific research team published a breakthrough research in the latest issue of "Nature" magazine, successfully using magnetron sputtering equipment to coat molybdenum, tungsten and other metals on the surface of diamond. This innovative technology is not only expected to improve the hardness, wear resistance and corrosion resistance of diamond surfaces, but will also open up new paths for diamond applications in industry, aerospace, medical and other fields.

Magnetron sputtering is an advanced surface treatment technology that bombards the target surface with high-energy particle beams, causing atoms or molecules on the target to detach and deposit on the substrate surface. Compared with traditional sputtering technology, magnetron sputtering has the advantages of high deposition rate, low substrate temperature rise, and strong film adhesion. In the process of plating molybdenum, tungsten and other metals on the diamond surface, the magnetron sputtering equipment first places the diamond in a vacuum chamber, and then uses high-energy ion beams to knock out the metal atoms from the metal target and guide it under the action of the magnetic field. The diamond surface eventually forms a dense metal film.

Experimental results show that plating molybdenum, tungsten and other metals on the diamond surface through magnetron sputtering equipment can significantly improve the hardness, wear resistance and corrosion resistance of the diamond surface. Compared with uncoated diamond, the stability of plated diamond in extreme environments such as high temperature, high pressure, strong corrosion, etc. is significantly improved. In addition, magnetron sputtering technology can also provide diverse metal coatings on diamond surfaces to meet application needs in different fields.

Breakthroughs in this technology will open up new paths for diamond applications in industry, aerospace, medical and other fields. For example, in the aerospace field, magnetron sputtering equipment is used to coat the diamond surface with a metal coating with high oxidation resistance, which can improve the life and reliability of aerospace engine turbine blades; in the medical field, the coating is biocompatible Antimicrobial and antibacterial metal coatings can enhance the safety and effectiveness of diamond medical devices.

In short, the technological breakthrough of magnetron sputtering equipment for plating molybdenum, tungsten and other metals on the surface of diamond is not only expected to improve the performance and application scope of diamond materials, but will also bring new opportunities and challenges to the development of surface treatment technology. Pay attention to the forefront of science and technology, and look forward to more in-depth research and technological breakthroughs on magnetron sputtering technology for metal plating on diamond surfaces, as well as its wide application and development in various fields.