Fluorescence and spin properties of defects in single digit nanodiamonds

Julia Tisler (1) , Gopalakrischnan Balasubramanian (1) , Boris Naydenov (1) , Roman Kolesov (1) , Bernhard Grotz (1) , Rolf Reuter (1) , Jean-Paul Boudou (2) , Patrick A. Curmi (2) , Mohamed Sennour (3) , Alain Thorel (3) , Michael Borsch (1) , Kurt Aulenbacher (4) , Rainer Erdmann (5) , Philip R. Hemmer (6) , Fedor Jelezko (7) , Jörg Wrachtrup (1)

1 Pfaffenwaldring 57, D–70550 Stuttgart, Germany - Physikalisches Institut [Stuttgart]
2 SABNP - Structure et activité des biomolécules normales et pathologiques
3 CDM - Centre des Matériaux
4 JGU - Johannes Gutenberg - Universität Mainz = Johannes Gutenberg University
5 PicoQuant GmbH
6 Texas A&M University [College Station]
7 Universität Stuttgart [Stuttgart]

This article reports stable photoluminescence and high-contrast optically detected electron spin resonance (ODESR) from single nitrogen-vacancy (NV) defect centers created within ultrasmall, disperse nanodiamonds of radius less than 4 nm. Unexpectedly, the efficiency for the production of NV fluorescent defects by electron irradiation is found to be independent of the size of the nanocrystals. Fluorescence lifetime imaging shows lifetimes with a mean value of around 17 ns, only slightly longer than the bulk value of the defects. After proper surface cleaning, the dephasing times of the electron spin resonance in the nanocrystals approach values of some microseconds, which is typical for the type Ib diamond from which the nanoparticle is made. We conclude that despite the tiny size of these nanodiamonds the photoactive nitrogen-vacancy color centers retain their bulk properties to the benefit of numerous exciting potential applications in photonics, biomedical labeling, and imaging.

Mots clés: confocal fluorescence microscopy; fluorescence lifetime imaging; electron spin resonance; defects in diamond; single molecule spectroscopy; single spin manipulation; Fluorescent nanoparticle

Domaines: Matériaux

Julia Tisler, Gopalakrischnan Balasubramanian, Boris Naydenov, Roman Kolesov, Bernhard Grotz, et al.. Fluorescence and spin properties of defects in single digit nanodiamonds. ACS Nano, 2009, 3 (7), pp.1959-1965. ⟨10.1021/nn9003617⟩. ⟨hal-00481219⟩