Recent advances in focused ion beam technology have enabled high-resolution, direct-write nanofabrication using light ions. Studies with light ions to date have, however, focused on milling of materials where sub-surface ion beam damage does not inhi
bit device performance. Here we report on direct-write milling of single crystal diamond using a focused beam of oxygen ions. Material quality is assessed by Raman and luminescence analysis, and reveals that the damage layer generated by oxygen ions can be removed by nonintrusive post-processing methods such as localised electron beam induced chemical etching.
Fluorescent nanodiamonds are attracting major attention in the field of bio-sensing and biolabeling. In this work we demonstrate a robust approach to surface functionalize individual nanodiamonds with metal-phenolic networks that enhance the photolum
inescence from single nitrogen vacancy (NV) centers. We show that single NV centres in the coated nanodiamonds also exhibit shorter lifetimes, opening another channel for high resolution sensing. We propose that the nanodiamond encapsulation suppresses the non-radiative decay pathways of the NV color centers. Our results provide a versatile and assessable way to enhance photoluminescence from nanodiamond defects that can be used in a variety of sensing and imaging applications
Quantum information processing and integrated nanophotonics require robust generation of single photon emitters on demand. In this work we demonstrate that diamond films grown by microwave plasma chemical vapour deposition on a silicon substrate host
bright, narrowband single photon emitters in the visible to near infrared spectral range. The emitters possess fast lifetime, absolute photostability, and exhibit full polarization at excitation and emission. Pulsed and continuous laser excitations confirm their quantum behaviour at room temperature, while low temperature spectroscopy is done to investigate their inhomogeneous broadening. Our results advance the knowledge of solid state single photon sources and open pathways for their practical implementation in quantum communication and quantum information processing.
Lanthanides are vital components in lighting, imaging technologies and future quantum memory applications due to their narrow optical transitions and long spin coherence times. Recently, diamond has become a preeminent platform for realization of man
y experiments in quantum information science. In this work, we demonstrate a promising approach to incorporate Eu ions into single crystal diamond and nanodiamonds, providing a means to harness the exceptional characteristics of both lanthanides and diamond in a single material. Polyelectrolytes are used to electrostatically assemble Eu(III) chelate molecules on diamond and subsequently chemical vapor deposition is employed for the growth of a high quality diamond crystal. Photoluminescence, cathodoluminescence and time resolved fluorescence measurements show that the Eu atoms retain the characteristic optical signature of Eu(III) upon incorporation into the diamond lattice. Computational modelling supports the experimental findings, corroborating that Eu3+ in diamond is a stable configuration within the diamond bandgap. The versatility of the synthetic technique is further illustrated through the creation of the well-studied Cr defect center. Together these defect centers demonstrate the outstanding chemical control over the incorporation of impurities into diamond enabled by the electrostatic assembly together with chemical vapour deposition growth.
