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6CCVD Research

Hybrid quantum sensing in diamond

At a Glance

Section titled “At a Glance”
MetadataDetails
Publication Date2024-02-14
JournalFrontiers in Physics
AuthorsNing Wang, Jianming Cai
InstitutionsHuazhong University of Science and Technology
Citations4
AnalysisFull AI Review Included

Executive Summary

Section titled “Executive Summary”

This review details advancements in Hybrid Quantum Sensing (HQS) utilizing Nitrogen-Vacancy (NV) centers in diamond, focusing on overcoming the NV center’s inherent insensitivity to non-magnetic parameters.

  • Core Principle: HQS converts traditionally insensitive physical or biological parameters (Temperature, Pressure, pH) into detectable magnetic field changes, leveraging the NV center’s ultra-high magnetic sensitivity.
  • Ultra-Sensitive Thermometry: Achieved temperature sensitivity down to 76 ”K/√Hz in diamond nanopillars by coupling NVs with Magnetic Nanoparticles (MNPs) near their magnetic phase transition (criticality enhancement).
  • Enhanced Pressure Sensing: Demonstrated a pressure coefficient of 8.2 kHz/kPa, representing a 500-fold improvement over bare NV centers, achieved by integrating magnetostrictive films (e.g., SmFe2) with the diamond.
  • Magnetic Field Boost: Sensitivity to external magnetic fields was enhanced to 0.9 pT/√Hz (and potentially 196 fT/√Hz) using Magnetic Flux Concentrators (MFCs) made of high-permeability ferrite.
  • Bio-Parameter Detection: Enabled detection of complex bio-signals, including SARS-CoV-2 RNA copies (down to a few hundred copies predicted) and localized pH/redox potential changes, using functionalized nanodiamonds and T1 relaxometry.
  • Broadened Frequency Range: Hybridization with thin-film magnets (YIG) or 13C nuclear spins allows the NV center to detect microwave signals and magnetic noise across a much wider frequency range (up to 100 GHz).

Technical Specifications

Section titled “Technical Specifications”
ParameterValueUnitContext
NV Zero-Field Splitting (Dgs)2.87GHzGround state at zero field
Electron Spin Gyromagnetic Ratio (Îłe)2.802MHz/Gauss
Bare NV T Response Coefficient-74kHz/KDgs shift with temperature
Bare NV P Response Coefficient14.5Hz/kPaDgs shift with pressure
Bare NV T Sensitivity (Bulk)mK/√HzSingle NV in bulk diamond
Hybrid T Sensitivity (Optimized)76”K/√HzNanopillar, magnetic criticality enhanced
Hybrid T Sensitivity (Nanodiamond)11mK/√HzNanodiamond, magnetic criticality enhanced
Hybrid Pressure Coefficient8.2 ± 0.9kHz/kPaUsing SmFe2 magnetostrictive layer
Hybrid Pressure Sensitivity (Simulated)0.35kPa/√HzUsing Terfenol-D piezomagnetic film
Hybrid Magnetic Sensitivity (Measured)0.9pT/√HzUsing MN60 ferrite MFCs
Hybrid Magnetic Sensitivity (Optimized)196 ± 60fT/√HzOptimized MFC geometry/ensemble NVs
NV Operating Temperature Range350 mK to 1000KExtreme environment stability
NV Magnetic Sensing Frequency RangeDC to 100GHzWide dynamic range
NV Electric Field Coupling (Axial, k||)0.35 ± 0.02Hz cm/VRelatively low sensitivity

Key Methodologies

Section titled “Key Methodologies”

Hybrid quantum sensing schemes rely on coupling the NV spin to a secondary transducer material that is highly responsive to the target parameter.

  1. Magnetic Criticality Thermometry:
    • Components: Nanodiamonds (containing NV centers) combined with Magnetic Nanoparticles (MNPs, e.g., Cu1-xNix alloy).
    • Mechanism: Temperature (T) variations shift the MNP magnetization (M). Near the MNP’s Curie temperature (Tc), the magnetic susceptibility (dM/dT) peaks, providing maximum conversion sensitivity (T → B field).
  2. Hydrogel Volume Phase Thermometry:
    • Components: Nanodiamonds, MNPs, and a stimulus-responsive hydrogel (e.g., pNIPAM).
    • Mechanism: T changes trigger the hydrogel’s volume phase transition, altering the physical separation distance (d) between the MNPs and the NVs. This distance change modulates the magnetic field detected by the NV centers.
  3. Piezomagnetic Pressure Sensing:
    • Components: Bulk diamond with NVs coupled to a magnetostrictive film (e.g., Terfenol-D or SmFe2).
    • Mechanism: External pressure or stress induces strain in the magnetostrictive film, converting the mechanical input into a change in the film’s magnetic domain structure and stray field (P → B field).
  4. Bio-Sensing via T1 Relaxometry:
    • Components: Functionalized nanodiamonds coated with paramagnetic species (e.g., Gd3+ complexes) linked to specific capture molecules (e.g., c-DNA).
    • Mechanism: The presence of the target bio-analyte (e.g., SARS-CoV-2 RNA) causes the paramagnetic species to detach from the nanodiamond surface. This detachment reduces the local magnetic noise, which is measured as an increase in the NV center’s longitudinal spin relaxation time (T1).
  5. Magnetic Field Enhancement (MFCs):
    • Components: NV ensembles integrated with high-permeability Magnetic Flux Concentrators (MFCs, e.g., ferrite).
    • Mechanism: The MFCs collect and guide magnetic flux lines, magnifying the target magnetic field at the location of the NV centers, thereby boosting sensitivity.

Commercial Applications

Section titled “Commercial Applications”

The enhanced capabilities of hybrid diamond quantum sensors are critical for several high-value industries and research fields:

  • Biomedical and Cellular Research:
    • In Vivo Monitoring: Real-time, non-perturbative monitoring of temperature, pH, and redox potential in living cells and organisms.
    • Diagnostics: Ultra-sensitive detection of bio-markers (e.g., viral RNA copies) for disease diagnosis.
    • Thermoregulation Studies: Resolving nanoscale temperature heterogeneities crucial for understanding gene expression and biological processes.
  • Materials Science and Nanotechnology:
    • Nano-Magnetometry: Local, non-perturbative magnetic field imaging for characterizing correlated and topological systems (e.g., van der Waals materials, complex oxide interfaces).
    • Device Characterization: Mapping heat dissipation and temperature fluctuations in integrated circuits and nanodevices.
  • Metrology and Engineering:
    • Precision Navigation: Utilizing enhanced magnetic sensitivity for accurate navigation systems.
    • High-Frequency Sensing: Versatile quantum sensors capable of detecting magnetic noise and spin-wave dynamics up to 100 GHz.
    • Extreme Environment Sensing: Utilizing diamond’s stability for sensing in high-pressure (up to 140 GPa) and high-temperature (up to 1000 K) environments.
View Original Abstract

Quantum sensing is a quantum technology for ultrasensitive detection, which is particularly useful for sensing weak signals at the nanoscale. Nitrogen vacancy centers in diamond, thanks to their superb quantum coherence under ambient conditions and the stability of the material in extreme and complicated environments, have been demonstrated as promising quantum probes in multi-parameter sensing. Their spin properties make them particularly sensitive to magnetic fields, but they are insensitive to temperature, electric field, pressure, etc., and even immune to some bio-parameters (e.g., pH and glucose concentration). Recently, hybrid quantum sensing has emerged as a promising avenue for further enhancing the capabilities of diamond sensors. Different techniques can potentially improve the sensitivity, range of detectable parameters, and sensing frequencies of diamond sensors. This review provides an overview of hybrid quantum sensing using diamond. We first give a brief introduction to quantum sensing using diamond, and then review various hybrid sensing schemes that have been developed to enhance the sensing capabilities of diamond sensors. Finally, the potential applications and challenges associated with hybrid quantum sensing in diamond are discussed.

Tech Support

Section titled “Tech Support”

Original Source

Section titled “Original Source”

References

Section titled “References”
  1. 2017 - Quantum sensing [Crossref]
  2. 2019 - Two-dimensional magnetic crystals and emergent heterostructure devices [Crossref]
  3. 2017 - Layer-dependent ferromagnetism in a van Der Waals crystal down to the monolayer limit [Crossref]
  4. 2017 - Discovery of intrinsic ferromagnetism in two-dimensional van Der Waals crystals [Crossref]
  5. 2010 - Colloquium: topological insulators [Crossref]
  6. 2016 - Emergent phenomena induced by spin-orbit coupling at surfaces and interfaces [Crossref]
  7. 2012 - Emergent phenomena at oxide interfaces [Crossref]
  8. 2009 - Infrared laser-mediated gene induction in targeted single cells in vivo [Crossref]
  9. 2013 - Scaling of embryonic patterning based on phase-gradient encoding [Crossref]
  10. 2010 - H2A.Z-Containing nucleosomes mediate the thermosensory response in arabidopsis [Crossref]

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