Diamond cubic
![Pole figure in stereographic projection of the diamond lattice showing the 3-fold symmetry along the [111] direction.](/uploads/202501/08/DiamondPoleFigure1112048.png)
The diamond cubic crystal structure is a repeating pattern of 8 atoms that certain materials may adopt as they solidify. While the first known example was diamond, other elements in group 14 also adopt this structure, including α-tin, the semiconductors silicon and germanium, and silicon/germanium alloys in any proportion.