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Engineering bright fluorescent nitrogen-vacancy (NV) nano-diamonds: Role of low-energy ion-irradiation parameters

Authors :
Ravi Kumar
Priyanka Pandit
Prabir Pal
S. R. Dhakate
R. P. Pant
Raj Kumar
Devesh K. Avasthi
Dilip K. Singh
Source :
AIP Advances, Vol 8, Iss 8, Pp 085023-085023-18 (2018)
Publication Year :
2018
Publisher :
AIP Publishing LLC, 2018.

Abstract

Bright emission from fluorescent nanodiamonds (FNDs) is highly desirable for optical bio-imaging applications. Here we report about optimized ion-irradiation and heat treatment conditions for efficient creation of Nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in high pressure high temperature (HPHT) grown type Ib Nanodiamond samples irradiated in energy range (20-50 KeV) and at varying fluence (1012-1016 ions/cm2). Different low energy ion irradiations are not detrimental for the crystallinity of nanodiamonds as confirmed by X-ray diffraction and HRTEM. The concentration of defects near the outer surface (non-diamond carbon) has been increased for highest ion dose (50 KeV, 1016 ions/cm2) as compared to lower ion dose (50 KeV, 1013 ions/cm2). The relative emission intensity of characteristic Zero-phonon lines of NV°, NV- centers as compared to broad emission in the range 550-750 nm was monitored with varying NV creation conditions. Sample irradiated at 50 KeV and with fluence of 1013 ions/cm2 show maximum emission in the phonon side band (550-750 nm) with maxima at 680 nm. These optimized ion irradiation conditions leads to the fabrication of 12.5±0.8 ppm concentration of NV- centers in nanodiamonds. This is desirable for their use as biomarker. This work provides a recipe for creating bright nanodiamonds for optical imaging applications.

Subjects

Subjects :
Physics
QC1-999

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
21583226
Volume :
8
Issue :
8
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
AIP Advances
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.72209c571f194f738cb391e7e49c80c4
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5012068