Intelligent anvils applied to experimental investigations: state-of-the-art

Since a long time, efforts have been made to improve the accuracy of pressure and temperature measurements in diamond anvil cell experiments performed in experimental petrology and high-pressure physics. Here, we report on the state-of-the-art of the research carried out during past few years with the diamond anvils carrying implanted electronic structures (‘intelligent’ anvils, iAnvils). The electronic structures are inserted a few microns below the diamond surface into the diamond lattice by high-energy implantation of boron. These structures can be used as pressure- and temperature-sensitive devices. Another useful application is the fabrication of micro-heaters integrated in the anvils. Pressure- and temperature-induced responses of the sensors (change of resistance) are quantified by low-current measurement equipment. Calibrations against pressure–temperature parameters are performed using well-known phase transitions or by using equation of state of pure substances. Results of in situ measurements performed on iAnvils under pressure and temperature are presented, together with calibration curves for pressure and temperature. Future experiments on in situ measurements of the conductivity dependence of the sensor structures are discussed.