A team led by researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University, in collaboration with Tohoku University and Orbray Co., Ltd., has developed a device using lab-grown diamonds to improve radiation dose measurement. The diamonds, produced via heteroepitaxial growth by Orbray, offer high sensitivity and stability for medical and industrial applications.
According to a press release from Tokyo Metropolitan University on May 8, 2026, the device uses synthetic diamond crystals to detect radiation with greater accuracy than conventional silicon-based detectors. The diamonds are grown on a substrate using a chemical vapor deposition process, allowing for large-area, high-quality crystals.
The researchers tested the device with X-rays and gamma rays, finding it could measure doses with a linear response and minimal variation. This could lead to safer radiation therapy for cancer patients and more precise monitoring in nuclear facilities.
Orbray's heteroepitaxial diamond technology enables the production of single-crystal diamonds on a wafer scale, reducing cost and improving scalability. The team plans to further refine the device for clinical trials.
