In our recent paper we study a mild nanodiamond surface modification technique for enhanced NV spin properties - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2024.119062
ChemiQS
Chemistry Meets Quantum Sensing: Towards Atomic Architectures Tailored for Diamond Probes
GOALS OF THE PROJECT
The rise of quantum sensing
brings the opportunity to develop sensors that can be substantially more
sensitive, scalable and faster than the classical ones, thus affecting many
scientific and industrial disciplines, including chemistry, biochemistry, biology
and medicine. Although different sensing principles and nanoprobes have been
studied, they are still limited mainly in sensitivity and spatiotemporal
resolution. For instance, nanodiamond particles with qubits can act as optical
probes and have enormous potential e.g. for intracellular localized detection,
but the sensitivity is limited by short coherence times of the qubits due to
subsurface defects and unsaturated bonds. Moreover, the sensor specificity and
colloidal stability in the biological liquids need to be addressed. The project
aims to tackle these problems by exploring surface chemistry, polymer coating
and chemical linking strategies to develop a new generation of nanodiamond-based
quantum sensing probes. Specifically, novel chemical approach will be tested to
annihilate the dangling bonds and subsurface defects by controlled surface
removal using radical etching in the gas phase. The nanodiamond probes will be
then stabilized colloidally by developing ultrathin polymer coatings and the
probe specificity will be ensured by novel linking strategies. Finally, the qubit
spin properties will be monitored optically to detect paramagnetic ions and
nucleic acids in biologically relevant conditions with unprecedented
sensitivity.
NEWS and PUBLICATIONS
In our new work we exploit the long T1 relaxation times of NV centers in nanodiamonds - https://doi.org/10.1002/qute.202300004