Enhanced photoluminescence from single nitrogen-vacancy defects in nanodiamonds coated with metal-phenolic networks

TL;DR

This study presents a method to enhance the photoluminescence of single nitrogen-vacancy centers in nanodiamonds by coating them with metal-phenolic networks, improving their potential for bio-sensing and imaging.

Contribution

The paper introduces a novel surface functionalization technique that boosts photoluminescence and shortens lifetimes of NV centers in nanodiamonds, enabling better sensing capabilities.

Findings

Enhanced photoluminescence from NV centers in coated nanodiamonds.

Shorter fluorescence lifetimes indicating improved sensing resolution.

Suppression of non-radiative decay pathways in nanodiamond NV centers.

Abstract

Fluorescent nanodiamonds are attracting major attention in the field of bio-sensing and biolabeling. In this work we demonstrate a robust approach to surface functionalize individual nanodiamonds with metal-phenolic networks that enhance the photoluminescence from single nitrogen vacancy (NV) centers. We show that single NV centres in the coated nanodiamonds also exhibit shorter lifetimes, opening another channel for high resolution sensing. We propose that the nanodiamond encapsulation suppresses the non-radiative decay pathways of the NV color centers. Our results provide a versatile and assessable way to enhance photoluminescence from nanodiamond defects that can be used in a variety of sensing and imaging applications