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

MetadataDetails
Publication Date2019-12-27
JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
AuthorsHsiao‐Chi Lu, Jen‐Iu Lo, Yu‐Chain Peng, Sheng‐Lung Chou, Bing‐Ming Cheng
InstitutionsNational Synchrotron Radiation Research Center, Institute of Atomic and Molecular Sciences, Academia Sinica
Citations26

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 O<sub>2</sub> 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.