Diamond possesses excellent thermal conductivity and tunable bandgap. Currently, the high-pressure, high-temperature, and chemical vapor deposition methods are the most promising strategies for the commercial-scale production of synthetic diamond. Although diamond has been extensively employed in jewelry and cutting/grinding tasks, the realization of its high-end applications through microstructure engineering has long been sought. Herein, we discuss the microstructures encountered in diamond and further concentrate on cutting-edge investigations utilizing electron microscopy techniques to illuminate the transition mechanism between graphite and diamond during the synthesis and device constructions. The impacts of distinct microstructures on the electrical applications of diamond, especially the photoelectrical, electrical, and thermal properties, are elaborated. The recently reported elastic and plastic deformations revealed through in situ microscopy techniques are also summarized. Finally, the limitations, perspectives, and corresponding solutions are proposed.

中文翻译：

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通过微观结构工程合理设计金刚石：从合成到应用

金刚石具有优异的导热性和可调谐的带隙。目前，高压、高温和化学气相沉积方法是商业规模生产人造金刚石最有前途的策略。尽管金刚石已广泛应用于珠宝和切割/研磨任务，但长期以来人们一直在寻求通过微结构工程实现其高端应用。在这里，我们讨论了金刚石中遇到的微观结构，并进一步集中于利用电子显微镜技术的前沿研究，以阐明合成和器件构造过程中石墨和金刚石之间的转变机制。详细阐述了不同的微观结构对金刚石电学应用的影响，特别是光电、电和热性能。还总结了最近报道的通过原位显微镜技术揭示的弹性和塑性变形。最后提出了局限性、展望以及相应的解决方案。