Spatially controlled fabrication of a bright fluorescent nanodiamond-array with enhanced far-red Si-V luminescence

Nanotechnology. 2014 Jan 31;25(4):045302. doi: 10.1088/0957-4484/25/4/045302. Epub 2014 Jan 6.

Abstract

We demonstrate a novel approach to precisely pattern fluorescent nanodiamond-arrays with enhanced far-red intense photostable luminescence from silicon-vacancy (Si-V) defect centers. The precision-patterned pre-growth seeding of nanodiamonds is achieved by a scanning probe 'dip-pen' nanolithography technique using electrostatically driven transfer of nanodiamonds from 'inked' cantilevers to a UV-treated hydrophilic SiO2 substrate. The enhanced emission from nanodiamond dots in the far-red is achieved by incorporating Si-V defect centers in a subsequent chemical vapor deposition treatment. The development of a suitable nanodiamond ink and mechanism of ink transport, and the effect of humidity and dwell time on nanodiamond patterning are investigated. The precision patterning of as-printed (pre-CVD) arrays with dot diameter and dot height as small as 735 nm ± 27 nm and 61 nm ± 3 nm, respectively, and CVD-treated fluorescent ND-arrays with consistently patterned dots having diameter and height as small as 820 nm ± 20 nm and, 245 nm ± 23 nm, respectively, using 1 s dwell time and 30% RH is successfully achieved. We anticipate that the far-red intense photostable luminescence (~738 nm) observed from Si-V defect centers integrated in spatially arranged nanodiamonds could be beneficial for the development of next generation fluorescence-based devices and applications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Biocompatible Materials / chemistry
  • Crystallization
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Humidity
  • Light
  • Luminescence
  • Materials Testing
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Nanodiamonds / chemistry*
  • Nanotechnology
  • Photochemistry
  • Scattering, Radiation
  • Silicon / chemistry*
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
  • Spectrum Analysis, Raman
  • Ultraviolet Rays

Substances

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Nanodiamonds
  • Silicon