Huawei has been accused of stealing proprietary technology from a semiconductor firm following a raid by the FBI on a US lab owned by the Chinese telecoms giant.

Akhan Semiconductor, a tech firm specialising in the development of diamond-based materials, alleges that Huawei attempted to steal its “diamond glass” technology, which is thought be significantly more durable than the Gorilla Glass currently used in the electronics industry.

The company sent a prototype of its proprietary Miraj Diamond technology to a lab owned by Huawei in San Diego for testing, but found the glass to be severely damaged upon its late return.

Adam Khan, the inventor behind the smartphone glass technology developed by the company, was asked to collaborate with the FBI on an investigation into Huawei at last month’s Consumer Electronics Show, according to an investigation by Bloomberg Businessweek.

The FBI investigation into alleged theft of Akhan’s intellectual property by Huawei led to a raid on the San Diego lab. Representatives of the Chinese firm admitted to breaking contract with the diamond-semiconductor specialist on tape, it is believed.

Illinois-based Akhan said it expected Huawei to abide by an agreement struck between the two companies and that its product would be “returned unharmed”.