Nitrogen-Vacancy Centers in Diamond for High-Performance Detection of Vacuum Ultraviolet, Extreme Ultraviolet, and X-rays

Abstract

Fluorescent nanodiamonds (FNDs) containing nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers as built-in fluorophores exhibit a nearly constant emission profile over 550–750 nm upon excitation by vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV), extreme ultraviolet (EUV), and X-radiations from a synchrotron source over the energy (wavelength) range of 6.2–1450 eV (0.86–200 nm). The photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield of FNDs increases steadily with the increasing excitation energy, attaining a value as great as 1700% at 700 eV (1.77 nm). Notably, the yield curve is continuous, having no gap in the VUV to X-ray region. In addition, no significant PL intensity decreases were observed for hours. Applying the FND sensor to measure the absorption cross-sections of gaseous O2 over 110–200 nm and comparing the measurements with the sodium-salicylate scintillator, we obtained results in agreement with each other within 5%. The superb photostability and broad applicability of FNDs offer a promising solution for the long-standing problem of lacking a robust and reliable detector for VUV, EUV, and X-radiations.

Fabricating Nanodiamonds from Biomass by Direct Laser Writing under Ambient Conditions

“…Cellulose-based paper, a commodity commonly available in daily life, has many advantages, such as low cost, highly flexibility, light weight, environmental friendliness, and biodegradability. , These superior attributes make the development of single-use disposable paper-based sensors possible, for example, disposable glucose sensors . Optimal candidates for paper-based flexible devices involve various carbon materials, including graphene, carbon nanotube, carbon onion, and activated carbon, owing to their high specific surface areas, high conductivity, and electrochemical stability. − Nanodiamonds (NDs), an allotrope of carbon, have been extensively studied because of their tremendous potential applications in quantum computing, fuel cells, transistors, and biosensors. − However, these NDs electronics are usually embedded in silicon or metal substrate . To date, very few studies have investigated the fabrication of paper-based NDs sensors, , perhaps due to difficulties in both the scalable production of NDs and the integration of NDs electrodes into paper substrates.…”

Vacuum-Ultraviolet Absorption Spectra of Icy C2H4 at 13–60 K

“…The UV/VUV light was incident on the icy sample in a perpendicular beam. The transmitted light impinged on a glass window coated with sodium salicylate; the fluorescence was detected with a photomultiplier tube (Hamamatsu R943) in a photon-counting mode (Lu et al, 2020). The absorption spectra were recorded at spectral resolution 0.2 nm.…”

A critical review on diverse technologies for advanced wastewater treatment during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: What do we know?

“…UV irradiation comprises electromagnetic waves invisible to humans but visible to many insects and birds. Also, UV irradiation is a form of electromagnetic energy, having a wavelength shorter than visible light but longer than x-rays ( Lu et al 2019 , Milov et al 2020 ). Commonly, black lights and mercury lamps are specific lights in UV ( Hinds et al 2019 ).…”