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Blue diamonds are already some of the most fascinating gemstones in the world, but did you know they can also conduct electricity? They can if they are natural color type IIb. ⚡️💎 Here’s why: Boron is the magical ingredient that causes diamonds to turn blue and conduct electricity. Pure diamond consists of covalently bonded carbon atoms, where each atom’s 6 electrons are tightly bound, making it an excellent electrical insulator. However, substitutional boron atoms only have 5 electrons, creating electronic “holes” in the diamond crystal lattice, creating a pathway for electrical conduction. Boron atoms can be compensated by nitrogen atoms in the crystal, “accepting” electrons that are “donated” by the latter atoms. The higher the concentration of uncompensated boron – and the deeper the blue color – the higher the electrical conductivity! Laboratory-grown diamonds that contain boron are also electrically conductive. However, blue diamonds that are colored by vacancies formed by natural or artificial irradiation do not conduct electricity! Learn more about blue diamonds and their fascinating properties in a recent issue of G&G at the link in our bio.

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