Diamond is a very versatile material. Although it has remarkable characteristics, for example, high thermal conductivity, very low electric conductivity, and extreme hardness, its other properties have limited its use. Since the first production of high-pressure synthetic diamond in 1955, industrial diamond has been manufactured in large amounts, and it is now widely used.

In 1976, a film of diamond was formed for the first time by chemical vapor deposition. It is now possible to make thin films with sizes larger than those made by high-pressure synthesis. Consequently, diamond can be used in new applications, such as surface coating. The techniques for using diamond, like those for using silicon, have rapidly progressed as diamond has been transformed from a bulk material into a high-quality thin film.