Nature 184, 1857 - 1858 (12 December 1959); doi:10.1038/1841857a0

Electrical Resistivity Changes observed in a Semiconducting Diamond after Heat Treatment

R. E. MUTCH & F. A. RAAL

Diamond Research Laboratory, Johannesburg. Oct. 28.

THE fact that some diamonds are semi-conductors of electricity was first observed by Custers¹. He designated these as type IIb diamonds and numerous workers have since reported on the electrical and optical properties of these stones.² Recent electrical resistivity measurements on several such diamonds in this Laboratory have revealed that their electrical conductivity can be altered markedly by subjecting them to heat treatment. Initially, these diamonds were heated at 850°C. for 70 hr. in a vacuum of better than 10^-5 mm. mercury for the required effect but lately the same change has been brought about by heating at 1,400°C. for 3 hr. in an inert atmosphere such as argon.

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