Dr Abraham Wolcott - April 18, 2024

"Tuning a Quantum Nanoprobe: Advancements in Diamond Chemistry using Halogens, Low-Z precursors and Metal Oxides" Quantum sensing and quantum communication technologies are emergent fields and will transform detection and cyber security in the 21st century. Nitrogen vacancy centers or NV centers are fluorescent defects hosted in diamond and can be described as a quantum bit (qubit) capable of magnetometry, electrometry and thermometry. The field of diamond surface chemistry is ripe for exploration as quantum sensing and quantum communication become mature with diamond and other exotic materials that host atomic defects. High-pressure high-temperature (HPHT) nanodiamond (ND) is the most common nanoscale host of NV centers and are typically purified with aerobic oxidation to form an oxygen rich surface. Past work has determined the surface to be largely terminated with alcohols similar to 111-terminated bulk diamond. In this work, a combination of halogen, low-Z and metal oxide chemistry on ND will be discussed. The chemical analysis is completed with overlapping laboratory and X-ray synchrotron-based spectroscopies. Chemical modalities using bromine, boron, nitrogen and silanes will be summarized and the results will be impactful for researchers using ultra-hard materials for quantum sensing applications and interested in controlling the surface properties including surface dipole moment and electronic noise.