Ensemble Negatively-Charged Nitrogen-Vacancy Centers in Type-Ib Diamond Created by High Fluence Electron Beam Irradiation

Abstract

Electron beam irradiation into type-Ib diamond is known as a good method for the creation of high concentration negatively-charged nitrogen-vacancy (NV⁻) centers by which highly sensitive quantum sensors can be fabricated. In order to understand the creation mechanism of NV⁻ centers, we study the behavior of substitutional isolated nitrogen (P1 centers) and NV⁻ centers in type-Ib diamond, with an initial P1 concentration of 40–80 ppm by electron beam irradiation up to 8.0 × 10¹⁸ electrons/cm². P1 concentration and NV⁻ concentration were measured using electron spin resonance and photoluminescence measurements. P1 center count decreases with increasing irradiation fluence up to 8.0 × 10¹⁸ electrons/cm². The rate of decrease in P1 is slightly lower at irradiation fluence above 4.0 × 10¹⁸ electrons/cm² especially for samples of low initial P1 concentration. Comparing concentration of P1 centers with that of NV⁻ centers, it suggests that a part of P1 centers plays a role in the formation of other defects. The usefulness of electron beam irradiation to type-Ib diamonds was confirmed by the resultant conversion efficiency from P1 to NV⁻ center around 12–19%.

1. Introduction

The negatively-charged nitrogen-vacancy (NV⁻) center in diamond is a lattice defect consisting of one nitrogen atom adjacent to one atomic vacancy (Figure 1) [1,2]. The NV⁻ center has been in the center of attention as a qubit for quantum information processing, and also as a quantum sensor for detection of magnetic field, electric field, temperature and strain, etc. [3]. The multifunctional property of NV⁻ centers working at room temperature (RT) is very attractive for many research fields; especially in the field of biology and life sciences [4,5,6,7]. Quantum beam irradiation followed by subsequent thermal annealing is one of the effective procedures to create NV⁻ center in diamond [8]. The irradiation introduces vacancies into diamond containing nitrogen atoms, and the annealing enables vacancies to diffuse. Then diffused vacancies are trapped by nitrogen atoms, and as a result, NV centers are formed. In addition, by one electron supplied from another nitrogen atom at a lattice site (P1 center), the charge state of NV centers changes from neutral (NV⁰) to NV⁻.

Applying NV⁻ centers in quantum sensing requires high concentration of ensemble NV⁻ centers to achieve high sensitivities [3,5]. For example, the magnetic sensitivity is proportional to the reciprocal of $\sqrt{N{T}_2}$, where N is the number of NV centers and T₂ is the spin coherence time. The dense NV⁻ centers with long T₂ increase the sensitivity. For this purpose, MeV-range electron beam irradiation into a type-Ib diamond is a promising methodology, since a type-Ib diamond contains high concentration of P1 centers, and an electron beam enables creation of atomic vacancies uniformly both in-plane and in-depth, up to several mm deep [9]. The high-concentration NV⁻ centers have been studied and developed for quantum sensor application [10,11,12,13]. It is known that P1 center has an important role for not only being a component of NV⁻ centers, but also by supplying a negative charge to the NV center. However, there is still room to understand the mechanism of NV creation in diamond with high concentrations of P1 centers. If the concentration of P1 centers, which act as electron donors, is lower than certain concentration, the charge state of NV centers becomes neutral [14,15]. The neutral NV (NV⁰) centers do not act as quantum sensor and deteriorate sensitivity of sensor due to lower signal contrast of optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR). P1 centers play a role not only for NV⁻ center creation, but also as decoherence source (decrease in magnetic field sensitivity) [3]. Therefore, it is important to create high concentration of NV⁻ centers without NV⁰, considering the amount of P1 centers.

In this study, we investigate irradiation fluence dependence of the creation behavior of NV centers in type-Ib diamonds by using electron spin resonance (ESR) and photo-luminescence (PL) to understand the creation mechanism of NV⁻ center. Moreover, the values of T₂ are evaluated by Hahn-echo sequencing, since the value is one of the key parameters for highly sensitive AC magnetometry [3,16]. Then, we discuss the creation mechanism of NV centers based on decreasing P1 and increasing NV concentrations due to electron beam irradiation.

2. Materials and Methods

Commercially available type-Ib diamonds synthesized by high-pressure-high-temperature (HPHT) method (Sumitomo Electric Industries, Osaka, Japan) were used in this study. The initial P1 concentrations ([P1]_initial) for the samples were measured by ESR and referred to as Ib-80, Ib-72, Ib-52, Ib-46 depending on [P1]_initial of 80, 72, 52, and 46 ppm, respectively. Before electron beam irradiation, diamond samples were treated with the mixture of sulfuric acid and nitric acid around 200 °C to remove surface contamination. Electron beam irradiation in atmosphere at an energy of 2 MeV was carried out with irradiation fluence up to 8.0 × 10¹⁸ electrons (e)/cm² (total irradiation time; 80 h, Fluence rate; 1.0 × 10¹⁷ e/cm²/h) at Takasaki Advanced Radiation Research Institute, QST, Japan. The samples were kept on a water-cooled copper plate to avoid heating up of sample during irradiation. Subsequently, irradiated samples were annealed in furnace at 1000 °C for 2 h in vacuum (~1.0 × 10⁻⁴ Pa) at each fluence step.

ESR spectra were obtained with an X-band spectrometer (JES-X330, JEOL Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) at RT. Concentrations of P1 center ([P1]) and NV⁻ center ([NV⁻]) in diamond were determined by comparing their double-integrated ESR intensity to that of a reference sample, which is a HPHT synthetic type-Ib diamond containing 34 ± 3 ppm of P1 centers.

PL spectra were acquired with spectrometer (LabRAM HR Evolution, HORIBA, Kyoto, Japan) at RT. The excitation laser (λ = 532 nm) was led through the objective lens (MPlan N, 100X, N.A. = 0.9, Olympus) and the laser power was fixed at low value (800 nW) to prevent transition from NV⁻ to NV⁰ [10]. The ratio between NV⁰ and NV⁻ was obtained by fitting the typical spectra of NV⁰ and NV⁻ spectrum to each spectrum data. Afterwards, the ratio was corrected with the difference in fluorescence lifetime (NV⁰, NV⁻) [17,18].

The values of T₂ of NV⁻ center ensembles were measured using a home-built fluorescent microscope with a microwave system. The diamond sample was placed on a microwave resonator and excited by 532 nm laser (gem532, Laser Quantum, Stockport, UK). The fluorescence was detected using a photodiode (APD410A/M, Thorlabs, Newton, NJ, USA) and recorded via oscilloscope (MDO34, Tektronix, Beaverton, OR, USA). A magnetic field was applied to the sample by a permanent magnet, and the resonance frequency was identified by ODMR. Rabi oscillations of the ensemble NV center were measured to determine the state flip (π pulse) time, and a Hahn-echo sequence was performed to measure T₂.

3. Results

3.1. Irradiation Fluence Dependence of P1 Center Concentration

By electron beam irradiation and subsequent annealing for type-Ib diamonds, some amounts of P1 centers are consumed through NV⁻ center creation. The consumption of P1 centers was evaluated by measuring [P1]. P1 centers can be detected by ESR, since a P1 center has an unpaired electron, S = 1/2. The ESR spectrum shows signal peaks at around approximately g = 2 split by hyperfine interaction with nitrogen nuclear spins, I = 1 (¹⁴N). The details of P1 center spectrum have been well established [19,20]. In this study, the center peaks are used for quantification of [P1]. Figure 2a shows center peaks of P1 centers for Ib-46 at irradiation fluence of 0.0, 3.5, 6.0, and 8.0 × 10¹⁸ e/cm². Obviously, the intensity decreases with increasing irradiation fluence. Figure 2b represents [P1] of four samples as a function of electron fluence. The uncertainty of [P1] is about ±10%. For all samples, [P1] decreases with increasing irradiation fluence. However, P1 centers still remain in all samples even after irradiation with fluences up to 8.0 × 10¹⁸ e/cm². The residual P1 centers are expected to be converted to NV center by further irradiation. The relationship between the consumption of P1 and the creation NV⁻ will be discussed in Section 4.

3.2. Irradiation Fluence Dependence of NV⁻ Center Concentration

NV centers can be excited by green laser light (532 nm), and PL spectra were obtained to analyze the charge state and the amount of NV centers. NV⁰ and NV⁻ centers show zero-phonon lines (ZPLs) at 575 nm and 638 nm, respectively (Arrows in Figure 3a) [12]. In addition, each center has broad phonon-side-band at RT as shown in Figure 3a. The shown spectrum of NV⁰ in Figure 3a was typical one obtained from a CVD diamond sample containing a low density of [P1]_initial, irradiated with sufficient high fluence of electron beam. Thus, most P1 centers have been converted to NV centers and there is no P1 center acting as donor. At the measurement, a high power laser (8 mW) was used for excitation to induce transition from NV⁻ centers to NV⁰ centers [21]. On the other hand, the spectrum of Ib-80 with the irradiation fluence of 8.0 × 10¹⁸ e/cm², where the ZPL of NV⁰ center is absent, was regarded as typical spectrum of NV⁻ center (Figure 3a). All PL spectra obtained in this study were analyzed by fitting with superposition of typical spectra of NV⁻ and NV⁰ centers. Figure 3b represents PL spectra of four samples with the irradiation fluence of 8.0 × 10¹⁸ e/cm². No significant difference among all spectra is obtained although very small amount of ZPL for NV⁰ is observed for Ib-52. The NV⁻/NV⁰ ratio for Ib-52 is estimated to be around 175 or less. The obtained result indicates that most NV centers created in all samples are NV⁻, even after electron irradiation at the fluence of 8.0 × 10¹⁸ e/cm², although very small amounts of NV⁰ are created in Ib-52.

Integrated values of PL spectra between 535 and 900 nm are plotted as a function of irradiation fluence in Figure 3c. The integrated signals for all samples increase with increasing irradiation fluences. This suggests that the amounts of NV⁻ center increase with increasing the irradiation fluence. To estimate the [NV⁻], we carried out an ESR study.

NV⁻ centers in triplet ground state can be observed by ESR [13,22]. The typical ESR spectrum of NV⁻ center shows eight peaks caused by zero-field-splitting by spin-spin interaction at ground triplet state and four orientations of its electron orbitals due to tetrahedral symmetry. Figure 4a represents the lefternmost peak of NV⁻ centers where one crystallographic axes, [111], is aligned to the external magnetic field (B₀). The spectra clearly show hyperfine splitting by nitrogen nuclear spins. The intensity of spectra obviously increases with increasing irradiation fluence. [NV⁻] was calculated and plotted as a function of irradiation fluence in Figure 4b. In contrast to P1 centers, NV⁻ centers increase with increasing irradiation fluence. As a result, 10 ppm of NV⁻ are created in Ib-80 by electron irradiation at the fluence of 8.0 × 10¹⁸ e/cm².

3.3. Coherence Time (T₂) of Ensemble NV⁻ Center

Basically, longer T₂ and higher concentration of NV⁻ centers results in higher sensitivity for magnetometry [3,16]. Thus, T₂ plays a crucial role as one of indicators about the sensitivity of quantum sensing. In order to investigate spin relaxation property of samples irradiated at fluence of 8.0 × 10¹⁸ e/cm², T₂ of NV⁻ centers was measured using Hahn-echo pulse sequences. The ODMR spectrum for Ib-72 irradiated at 8.0 × 10¹⁸ e/cm² is shown in Figure 5a as an example for a typical ODMR signal. The resonance dips are split fourfold by an external magnetic field. Since the two center dips are degenerate groups of different crystallographic axes of diamond lattice of $\left[\overline{1}\overline{1}1\right]$, $\left[1\overline{1}\overline{1}\right]$, and $\left[\overline{1}1\overline{1}\right]$, resonant frequency of nondegenerate group from $\left[1\overline{1}\overline{1}\right]$ at around 2.8 GHz was used to observe Rabi oscillations of the ensemble NV⁻ centers (Figure 5b). Spin-echo decay with free precession time measured by Hahn-echo sequences is depicted in Figure 5c. The value of T₂ for each sample was estimated from the spin-echo decay. T₂ of irradiated samples were obtained as follows: (1.3 ± 0.48) μs for Ib-80, (1.6 ± 0.77) μs for Ib-72, (2.7 ± 0.96) μs for Ib-52, (2.1 ± 0.68) μs for Ib-46.

According to Bauch et al. [23], T₂ depends on total nitrogen concentration when its value is more than 1 ppm, since the interaction with nitrogen spin bath is the dominant decoherence source for ensemble NV⁻ centers. Bauch et al. reported a following equation;

1/T₂([N_T]) = B_NV-N · [N_T] + 1/T_2,other

(1)

where B_NV-N is the nitrogen-dominated NV decoherence rate per unit density; T_2,other accounts for decoherence mechanisms independent of nitrogen and [N_T] indicates total nitrogen concentration. The values of B_NV-N and T_2,other were determined as 1/B_NV-N = (160 ± 12) μs ppm and T_2,other = (694 ± 12) μs in Ref. [23]. The values of T₂ obtained in this study are plotted as a function of nitrogen concentration in Figure 5d. In the calculation, we assume that the values of [P1]_initial are equivalent to [N_T]. For comparison, the result obtained from the Equation (1) is also plotted as the dotted line in the figure. Obtained T₂ values in our experiment are compatible with the results estimated from Equation (1), and this means that the T₂ obtained in this study is dominated by nitrogen concentration. Although, the results obtained from Ib-80, Ib-72, Ib-46 seem to be slightly below the line, and it suggests that further decoherence occurred by other defects.

4. Discussion

The main mechanism of NV⁻ center creation has been described by a simple model of two processes, as shown below [14].

$${\mathrm{N}}_{\mathrm{s}}^0+{\mathrm{V}}^0\to {\mathrm{NV}}^0$$

(2)

$${\mathrm{NV}}^0+{\mathrm{N}}_{\mathrm{s}}^0\to {\mathrm{NV}}^{-}+{\mathrm{N}}_{\mathrm{s}}^{+}$$

(3)

where ${\mathrm{N}}_{\mathrm{s}}^0$ is the P1 center (neutral single-substitutional nitrogen), V⁰ is the neutral vacancy produced by energetic particle irradiation, ${\mathrm{N}}_{\mathrm{s}}^{+}$ is the positively charged single-substitutional nitrogen which gives one electron to NV⁰ center; resulting in NV⁻ being created. The first process (Equation (2)) represents combination of ${\mathrm{N}}_{\mathrm{s}}^0$ and V⁰ by thermal annealing, resulting in NV⁰ center creation. Thus, the vacancies diffuse in diamond during thermal annealing over 600 °C [24], and NV⁰ centers are created when the vacancies reach P1 centers.

Here, Figure 2b was replotted in Figure 6a as the change in P1 center concentration from the [P1]_initial (Δ[P1]) due to electron irradiation followed by annealing. Δ[P1] for all samples decreases linearly with increasing irradiation fluence, especially for the low fluence range (~4.0 × 10¹⁸ e/cm²; see the broken line for visual guide). This result means that the consumption of P1 centers depends on irradiation fluence, but not on [P1]_initial in the case of high [P1]_initial density, such as 45–80 ppm. In other words, the creation of NV⁻ might be limited by the creation of vacancies. On the other hand, the decreasing rate of P1 center becomes lower with increasing irradiation fluence in fluence ranges from 6.0 × 10¹⁸ e/cm² to 8.0 × 10¹⁸ e/cm², and this tendency is larger when [P1]_initial is smaller. Thus, the P1 center consumption is lower especially in low [P1]_initial samples, although [P1] still remains even after irradiation at fluence of 8.0 × 10¹⁸ e/cm². This suggests that the probability of recombination of P1 centers and vacancies is lower due to smaller amounts of P1.

According to Equations (2) and (3), two P1 centers are consumed for the creation of one NV⁻ center (2P1 → NV⁻ + ${\mathrm{N}}_{\mathrm{s}}^0$, one P1 for NV creation and another for electron donor). If this simple reaction can be applied to this result, the number of ${\mathrm{N}}_{\mathrm{s}}^0$ ([${\mathrm{N}}_{\mathrm{s}}^0$]) should be equal to the number of NV⁻ ([NV⁻]). This means that Δ[P1] is equal to the twice [NV⁻] (Δ[P1] = 2[NV⁻]) because of Δ[P1] = [NV⁻] + [${\mathrm{N}}_{\mathrm{s}}^0$]. Using an equation of [P1]_initial = [P1] + Δ[P1], the equation [P1]_initial = [P1] + 2[NV⁻] is derived. The values of ([P1] + 2[NV⁻])/[P1]_initial for samples as a function of irradiation fluence are plotted in Figure 6b. If NV⁻ center creation can be explained in terms of the simple reaction describes as Equations (2) and (3), the value of ([P1] + 2[NV⁻])/[P1]_initial should be unity. However, as shown in Figure 6b, the values of ([P1] + 2[NV⁻])/[P1]_initial for all samples decrease with increasing electron fluence and become around 0.8 after irradiation at 8.0 × 10¹⁸ e/cm². The values less than unity indicate that not all P1 centers are involved in the NV⁻ conversion. Thus, residual defects which contain nitrogen or/and capture charges are created due to the accumulation of irradiation damage. Since the creation yield of NV⁻ as well as the quality of NV⁻ (T₂) are affected by such residual defects (shown in Figure 5d), irradiation and annealing procedures must be improved. Further investigations are necessary to clarify this.

Conversion efficiency from nitrogen atom to NV⁻ center is a useful indicator to evaluate the NV⁻ center creation, which is defined as the ratio of [NV⁻] to [N_T], where [N_T] is the concentration of all nitrogen atoms [3]. Calculated conversion efficiencies of our samples at 8.0 × 10¹⁸ e/cm² reached ~13% for Ib-80, ~14% for Ib-72, ~19% for Ib-52, ~15% for Ib-46, respectively, regarding [P1]_initial as [N_T]. These values are consistent with previous studies [10], and are obviously higher than that of other procedures. For example, unmodified as-grown CVD process showed single-digit percentages [3,25]. Thus, the result obtained in this study suggests that electron beam irradiation into type-Ib diamond is useful to create NV⁻ centers with high concentration for quantum sensing.

5. Conclusions

We studied the creation behavior of NV center in type-Ib diamonds with high [P1]_initial under relatively high irradiation fluences, by ESR and PL measurements, to understand the creation mechanism of NV⁻ centers. The decrease rate of P1 centers as a function of irradiation fluence shows similar tendencies for all type-Ib diamond samples, regardless of the initial P1 concentration ([P1]_initial; 40–80 ppm) in the low fluence range (~4.0 × 10¹⁸ e/cm²). The reduction rate of P1 centers suggests that P1 centers are consumed by recombination with introduced vacancies. However, the decrease rate of P1 became lower in the high fluence ranges from 6.0 × 10¹⁸ e/cm² to 8.0 × 10¹⁸ e/cm², especially when [P1]_initial is smaller, in spite that [P1] still exists even after irradiation at 8.0 × 10¹⁸ e/cm². The process of P1 center consumption seems to shift depending on the residual P1 centers. Furthermore, the P1 center consumption and NV⁻ center creation were compared and as a result, it is concluded that some amounts of the P1 centers were consumed by other defects. The conversion efficiency from [P1]_initial to the [NV⁻] reached ~19% at 8.0 × 10¹⁸ e/cm² and the value confirms the usefulness of electron beam irradiation for high concentration of NV⁻ centers in type-Ib diamonds, whereas results in this study suggest that not all P1 centers converted to NV⁻ center and the residual defects might lead to a cause of decoherence.