1,187 research outputs found
Scanning nano-spin ensemble microscope for nanoscale magnetic and thermal imaging
Quantum sensors based on solid-state spins provide tremendous opportunities
in a wide range of fields from basic physics and chemistry to biomedical
imaging. However, integrating them into a scanning probe microscope to enable
practical, nanoscale quantum imaging is a highly challenging task. Recently,
the use of single spins in diamond in conjunction with atomic force microscopy
techniques has allowed significant progress towards this goal, but
generalisation of this approach has so far been impeded by long acquisition
times or by the absence of simultaneous topographic information. Here we report
on a scanning quantum probe microscope which solves both issues, by employing a
nano-spin ensemble hosted in a nanodiamond. This approach provides up to an
order of magnitude gain in acquisition time, whilst preserving sub-100 nm
spatial resolution both for the quantum sensor and topographic images. We
demonstrate two applications of this microscope. We first image nanoscale
clusters of maghemite particles through both spin resonance spectroscopy and
spin relaxometry, under ambient conditions. Our images reveal fast magnetic
field fluctuations in addition to a static component, indicating the presence
of both superparamagnetic and ferromagnetic particles. We next demonstrate a
new imaging modality where the nano-spin ensemble is used as a thermometer. We
use this technique to map the photo-induced heating generated by laser
irradiation of a single gold nanoparticle in a fluid environment. This work
paves the way towards new applications of quantum probe microscopy such as
thermal/magnetic imaging of operating microelectronic devices and magnetic
detection of ion channels in cell membranes.Comment: 22 pages including Supporting Information. Changes to v1:
affiliations and funding information updated, plus minor revisions to the
main tex
Fluorescent nanodiamonds for FRET-based monitoring of a single biological nanomotor FoF1-ATP synthase
Color centers in diamond nanocrystals are a new class of fluorescence markers
that attract significant interest due to matchless brightness, photostability
and biochemical inertness. Fluorescing diamond nanocrystals containing defects
can be used as markers replacing conventional organic dye molecules, quantum
dots or autofluorescent proteins. They can be applied for tracking and
ultrahigh-resolution localization of the single markers. In addition the spin
properties of diamond defects can be utilized for novel magneto-optical imaging
(MOI) with nanometer resolution. We develop this technique to unravel the
details of the rotary motions and the elastic energy storage mechanism of a
single biological nanomotor FoF1-ATP synthase. FoF1-ATP synthase is the enzyme
that provides the 'chemical energy currency' adenosine triphosphate, ATP, for
living cells. The formation of ATP is accomplished by a stepwise internal
rotation of subunits within the enzyme. Previously subunit rotation has been
monitored by single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) and
was limited by the photostability of the fluorophores. Fluorescent nanodiamonds
advance these FRET measurements to long time scales.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure
Room temperature "optical nanodiamond hyperpolarizer": Physics, design, and operation.
Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (DNP) is a powerful suite of techniques that deliver multifold signal enhancements in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and MRI. The generated athermal spin states can also be exploited for quantum sensing and as probes for many-body physics. Typical DNP methods require the use of cryogens, large magnetic fields, and high power microwave excitation, which are expensive and unwieldy. Nanodiamond particles, rich in Nitrogen-Vacancy (NV) centers, have attracted attention as alternative DNP agents because they can potentially be optically hyperpolarized at room temperature. Here, unraveling new physics underlying an optical DNP mechanism first introduced by Ajoy et al. [Sci. Adv. 4, eaar5492 (2018)], we report the realization of a miniature "optical nanodiamond hyperpolarizer," where 13C nuclei within the diamond particles are hyperpolarized via the NV centers. The device occupies a compact footprint and operates at room temperature. Instrumental requirements are very modest: low polarizing fields, low optical and microwave irradiation powers, and convenient frequency ranges that enable miniaturization. We obtain the best reported optical 13C hyperpolarization in diamond particles exceeding 720 times of the thermal 7 T value (0.86% bulk polarization), corresponding to a ten-million-fold gain in averaging time to detect them by NMR. In addition, the hyperpolarization signal can be background-suppressed by over two-orders of magnitude, retained for multiple-minute long periods at low fields, and deployed efficiently even to 13C enriched particles. Besides applications in quantum sensing and bright-contrast MRI imaging, this work opens possibilities for low-cost room-temperature DNP platforms that relay the 13C polarization to liquids in contact with the high surface-area particles
Wide-field Magnetic Field and Temperature Imaging using Nanoscale Quantum Sensors
The simultaneous imaging of magnetic fields and temperature (MT) is important
in a range of applications, including studies of carrier transport, solid-state
material dynamics, and semiconductor device characterization. Techniques exist
for separately measuring temperature (e.g., infrared (IR) microscopy,
micro-Raman spectroscopy, and thermo-reflectance microscopy) and magnetic
fields (e.g., scanning probe magnetic force microscopy and superconducting
quantum interference devices). However, these techniques cannot measure
magnetic fields and temperature simultaneously. Here, we use the exceptional
temperature and magnetic field sensitivity of nitrogen vacancy (NV) spins in
conformally-coated nanodiamonds to realize simultaneous wide-field MT imaging.
Our "quantum conformally-attached thermo-magnetic" (Q-CAT) imaging enables (i)
wide-field, high-frame-rate imaging (100 - 1000 Hz); (ii) high sensitivity; and
(iii) compatibility with standard microscopes. We apply this technique to study
the industrially important problem of characterizing multifinger gallium
nitride high-electron-mobility transistors (GaN HEMTs). We spatially and
temporally resolve the electric current distribution and resulting temperature
rise, elucidating functional device behavior at the microscopic level. The
general applicability of Q-CAT imaging serves as an important tool for
understanding complex MT phenomena in material science, device physics, and
related fields
Nanocrystalline diamond film for biosensor applications
In this study, we have developed a novel capacitive biosensor based oil interdigitated gold nanodiamond (GID-NCD) electrode for detection of C-reactive protein (CRP) antigen. CRP is one of the plasma proteins known as acute-phase proteins and its levels rise dramatically during inflammatory processes occurring in the body. It has been reported that CRP in serum can be used for risk assessment of cardiovascular diseases. The antibodies immobilization were confirmed by Fourier transform spectroscopy (FTIR) and contact angle measurements. In this capacitive biosensor, nanocrystalline diamond acting as a dielectric layer between the electrodes. The CRP antigen detection was performed by capacitive/dielectric-constant measurements. Our results showed that the response of NCD-based capacitive-based biosensor for CRP antigen was dependent on both concentration (25-800 ng/ml) as well as frequency (50-350 MHz). Furthermore, using optimized conditions, the biosensors developed in this study can be potentially used for detection of elevated level of risk markers protein in suspected subjects for early diagnosis of disease
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