Synthetic Diamond
Major Advancement in Quantum-Grade Diamond Materials for Scalable Quantum Systems Made Possible by IonQ
Leading commercial quantum computing and networking company IonQ today revealed a major advancement in the development of critical hardware for constructing clustered computing and large-scale quantum networks. In collaboration with Element Six, a synthetic diamond materials specialist of the De Beers Group, IonQ has developed quantum-grade diamond sheets that integrate with traditional semiconductor fabrication methods. This advancement towards diamond-based quantum devices is intended to expedite IonQ’s roadmap to scalable, fault-tolerant quantum systems.
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The Core Innovation: Foundry-Compatible Diamond Films
The recently created synthetic diamond films are important because synthetic diamonds are essential for creating photonic interconnects, which connect various quantum computer systems and quantum memory systems. By enabling these artificial diamonds to be used with traditional chipmaking techniques, IonQ is poised to speed up the development of scalable quantum systems and advance the industrial manufacturing of quantum networks and quantum computing devices.
The revolutionary nature of this invention was highlighted by Niccolo de Masi, Chairman and CEO of IonQ, who said that “Foundry-compatible, quantum-grade diamond films change the game in photonic interconnects, compute processors, and quantum networking.” This breakthrough will allow for the mass manufacturing of reliable, high-performing equipment for commercial quantum networks, he continued. Element Six’s global leadership in breakthrough material solutions for synthetic diamonds is leveraged in this partnership.
Unlocking Scalable Production and Hybrid Integration
Due to the strict material requirements for creating micro- and nano-structured quantum devices, fabrication was previously restricted to custom, R&D-scale methods that were impractical for dependable, at-scale manufacturing. By enabling the attachment of quantum-grade diamond sheets to common substrates like silicon and silicon nitride, IonQ’s novel method, made possible by Element Six’s materials, overcomes this obstacle.
This breakthrough unlocks two essential capabilities
Foundry Compatibility: For the first time, synthetic diamond quantum devices can be made using the same equipment and procedures that drive the $1 trillion semiconductor sector because to foundry compatibility. For diamond-based devices like sensors, quantum memory, and other microelectromechanical systems to be produced on a large scale, this is essential.
Heterogeneous Integration: Synthetic diamond can now be incorporated into hybrid, on-chip systems that combine the best of quantum and classical materials. This means integrating diamond-based quantum memories alongside non-diamond-based devices, such as switches, modulators, and electronic control layers, within the same chip.
Accelerating Quantum Networking and Beyond
With this new capability, IonQ’s quantum technology stack which includes quantum repeaters and interconnects is now completely foundry-compatible. The capacity to industrialize thin film quantum-grade diamonds creates new opportunities for related sectors like quantum sensing, in addition to its effects on computers and networking. According to Element Six CEO Siobhán Duffy, synthetic diamond is “one of the most promising platform materials for quantum technologies,” with important applications throughout the ecosystem, especially in networking and sensing, that allow for the at-scale production of high-performance devices.
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IonQ’s Broader Vision and Recent Milestones
IonQ’s statement today builds on the company’s recent completion of the Lightsynq acquisition and ongoing advancements along its roadmap for photonic interconnects. It is anticipated that the combination of Lightsynq’s photonic connectivity, quantum memory, and intellectual property portfolio will hasten IonQ’s path to scalable, fault-tolerant quantum systems.
IonQ is dedicated to expediting its technological roadmap, with the audacious objective of delivering the most potent quantum computers with two million qubits by 2030. In crucial fields including medical development, materials research, financial modelling, logistics, cybersecurity, and defense, this will spur innovation. The company is positioned as a frontrunner in the development of the quantum internet due to its breakthroughs in quantum networking.
IonQ Forte and IonQ Forte Enterprise, the company’s current generation of quantum computers, have already helped clients including NVIDIA, AstraZeneca, and Amazon Web Services reach 20x performance results. More than 1,000 patents in trapped-ion quantum computing technologies are now part of the company’s significantly increased intellectual property portfolio.
About the Collaborators: IonQ and Element Six
IonQ is the top commercial provider of quantum networking and computing, offering high-performance systems designed to address challenging global issues. The company has been recognized in a number of esteemed lists, such as Forbes’ 2025 Most Successful Mid-Cap Companies list and Newsweek’s 2025 Excellence Index 1000, for its inventive technologies and quick expansion.
Leading the way in the creation, research, and manufacturing of new materials for synthetic diamonds is Element Six, a division of the De Beers Group. In order to serve a variety of industries, including oil and gas and automobile production, Element Six has been using the extreme qualities of synthetic diamond for almost 80 years. These applications include photonics, acoustics, power transmission, water treatment, thermal management, and sensors.
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