Methane ¹²C
Quantum-grade methane for nitrogen-vacancy and color-center diamonds
12C Methane QG Diamond™ is a highly enriched carbon-12 methane with very low nitrogen content, developed as the starting material for color-center and nitrogen-vacancy (NV) CVD diamonds. It supports academic quantum research, the development of diamonds with specific color properties or NV centers, and industrial diamond production.
Quantum magnetometers based on NV centers are revolutionizing inertial navigation and enhancing electric vehicle battery efficiency, healthcare, and internet security, and may one day enable brain-to-machine interfaces. The performance of these sensors begins with the purity of the carbon source: both the isotopic composition and the nitrogen level of the methane used to grow the diamond are controlled at the gas level.
≤ 1 ppm nitrogen
99.5% chemical purity
Physical Properties and Advantages
Growing quantum-grade diamond requires an ultrahigh-purity starting material that is both highly enriched in 12C and very low in nitrogen. Key advantages include:
- 99.99% 12C enrichment, which dramatically increases coherence time at room temperature
- 1 ppm nitrogen or less, facilitating the implementation of the exact number of NV centers in the diamond
- 99.5% chemical purity, supplied neat (undiluted)
- Simple storage: room temperature, away from light and moisture
These properties make 12C Methane QG Diamond™ a reference starting material for quantum-grade diamond synthesis.
Discover our 12C Methane Product Page →
Why Choose Eurisotop as Your 12C Methane Supplier?
As part of the Cambridge Isotope Laboratories network, Eurisotop gives you direct access to the manufacturer of 12C Methane QG Diamond™, with the technical expertise to support the most demanding quantum research and diamond-growth programs.
🧪 Four decades of separation expertise
CIL has refined cryogenic distillation for more than 40 years through its 13C production, and applied this know-how to develop a dedicated 12C separation system, from design to operation in under three years.
🔬 Documented quality
Every product is specified at 99.99% 12C, 1 ppm nitrogen or less and 99.5% chemical purity, and a sample certificate of analysis is available so you can review the documentation before ordering.
12C Methane — Scientific and Industrial Applications
Quantum Sensing and Magnetometry
Nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center diamonds are the sensing element of a new generation of quantum magnetometers. Sensors built on NV diamonds grown from 12C-enriched methane are used in or being developed for:
- Inertial navigation: compact quantum magnetometers for navigation systems
- Electric vehicle batteries: improving battery efficiency
- Healthcare: sensitive magnetic measurements for medical applications
- Brain-to-machine interfaces: a longer-term prospect for NV-based sensing
Quantum Communications
Quantum key distribution (QKD) is one of the two applications listed for 12C Methane QG Diamond™, alongside quantum magnetometers. Like magnetometers, QKD systems often rely on nitrogen-vacancy (color-center) diamonds, which makes the quality of the starting gas a direct contributor to internet security technologies.
CVD Diamond Synthesis
The synthesis of color-center and NV diamonds by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) begins with 12C-enriched methane. Controlling both the isotopic composition and the nitrogen level of the feed gas gives growers a defined starting point:
- Coherence time: high 12C enrichment dramatically increases coherence time at room temperature
- NV center control: low nitrogen content facilitates the implementation of the exact number of NV centers
- Isotopically engineered materials: CIL positions isotopically engineered materials as essential to quantum technologies
Academic and Industrial Diamond Development
12C Methane QG Diamond™ is useful for:
- Academic laboratories focused on quantum research
- Developers of diamonds with specific color properties or nitrogen-vacancy centers
- Producers of industrial diamonds
Product at a Glance
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Product | 12C Methane QG Diamond™ |
| Isotopic enrichment | 99.99% 12C |
| Nitrogen content | ≤ 1 ppm N2 |
| Chemical purity | 99.5% |
| Form | Neat |
| Storage | Room temperature, away from light and moisture |
| Applications | Quantum magnetometers, quantum key distribution (QKD) |
| Documentation | Sample certificate of analysis available |
Looking for the carbon-13 counterpart? Our quantum range also includes Methane (13C, 99%).
From QG-alpha™ to QG Diamond™
2021 — 12C Methane QG-alpha™
Launched as the first commercially available quantum-grade gas for NV center diamonds: 99.99% 12C and 3 ppm nitrogen or less.
2022 — Dedicated separation column
After extensive testing in academic labs, institutes and industries in the USA, Europe, Asia and Australia, CIL assembled a separation column providing a continuous source of highly enriched 12C.
May 2024 — 12C Methane QG Diamond™
Nitrogen content lowered to 1 ppm or less, with 99.99% 12C enrichment, for color-center and NV CVD diamonds.
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Discover our 12C Methane Product Page →
Need a quote or a sample certificate of analysis? Contact our team →
