Structural and optical properties of micro-diamonds with SiV- color centers

TL;DR

This study investigates the growth, structure, and optical properties of micro-diamonds with SiV- color centers, revealing their morphology, internal stress distribution, and the quantity of SiV- centers using experimental and simulation methods.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the microstructure and optical characteristics of micro-diamonds with SiV- centers, combining experimental analysis with Monte Carlo simulations.

Findings

Icosahedral diamonds exhibit higher hydrostatic stress.

SiV- centers are estimated to number a few thousand per micro-diamond.

Micro-diamonds have distinct morphology and internal stress profiles.

Abstract

Isolated, micro-meter sized diamonds are grown by micro-wave plasma chemical vapour deposition technique on Si(001) substrates. Each diamond is uniquely identified by markers milled in the Si substrate by Ga+ focused ion beam. The morphology and micrograin structure analysis indicates that the diamonds are icosahedral or bi-crystals. Icosahedral diamonds have higher (up to $\sigma_\mathrm{h}$ = 2.3 GPa), and wider distribution ($\Delta\sigma_\mathrm{h}$ = 4.47 GPa) of hydrostatic stress built up at the microcrystal grain boundaries, compared to the other crystals. The number and spectral shape of SiV- color centers incorporated in the micro-diamonds is analysed, and estimated by means of temperature dependent photoluminescence measurements, and Montecarlo simulations. The Montecarlo simulations indicate that the number of SiV- color centers is a few thousand per micro-diamond.