Directed assembly of sensing platform using diamond nanoparticles

August 6, 2018

In a study published in Nano Letters, researchers experimentally reconstruct the temperature map of an operating coplanar waveguide to confirm the accuracy of the platforms.

Directed assembly of sensing platform using diamond nanoparticles image — Fabrication process for the realization of arrays of nanodiamonds embedded within a transparent, flexible, and portable matrix. First, cross-linked PS and PMMA resist are applied to a silicon substrate. Electron-beam lithography, followed by resist development and a plasma-ashing step, are used to create the desired patterns within the PS layer. The sample is then functionalized with P4VP-OH before removal of the residual resist. Nanodiamonds from a drop-cast solution bind preferentially at the remaining functionalized region and can finally be transferred into a PDMS layer. The schematic of the temperature measurements developed in this work is depicted as the last step of the fabrication workflow. The PDMS layer is positioned on top of a gadolinium–gallium–garnet substrate with a microwave antenna patterned on top, which acts as a heat source. A confocal microscopy setup with a 532 nm laser excitation is used to address the NV centers in the diamond nanoparticles.

Scientific Achievement

We have fabricated a nanodiamond sensing platform combining directed assembly polymer brushes patterning and a polytmethylsiloxane (PDMS) stamp printing technique.

Significance and Impact

The approach is scalable to create large-area, reusable arrays of quantum sensors for high-sensitivity temperature and magnetic field sensing.

Research Details

Directed assembly process to create arrays of nanoparticles with ensembles of NV centers, onto reusable, transferable, flexible and transparent PDMS films.
Protocol compatible with a number of target systems, experiments, and sensing protocols.
Demonstrates temperature mapping of a coplanar waveguide using PDMS array platform

DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.8b00895

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