Fluorescent Nanodiamonds

Syllabus: Nano Technology

•Source: TH*

Context: Fluorescent Nanodiamonds (FNDs) are becoming increasingly important across various industries due to their unique chemical and physical properties. A recent study demonstrated spinning FNDs at ultra-high speeds to test their limits in physics, highlighting potential applications in both theoretical and practical fields.

About FNDs (Chemical and Physical properties):

• Composition: FNDs are nanometre-sized diamonds composed of carbon nanoparticles.

• Stability: They are stable under light, non-toxic, and capable of maintaining fluorescence for long periods.

• Fluorescence: FNDs emit light of a lower frequency when irradiated with higher-frequency light. Unlike other fluorescent materials, FNDs have a longer fluorescence lifespan, making them superior for certain applications.

• Non-blinking: FNDs do not exhibit the blinking effect, unlike many other nanoscale fluorescent materials.

Technology process in formation:

• Production: FNDs are created under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions.

• Doping: They can be doped with nitrogen atoms to form nitrogen vacancy (NV) centres, which host electron spin qubits.

• Vacuum levitation: In a recent experiment, researchers levitated FNDs in a high vacuum and spun them at ultra-high speeds (up to 20 million times per second), marking an advancement in understanding their quantum properties.

Limitations:

• Technical challenges: In earlier experiments, researchers faced difficulty preventing the loss of nanodiamonds in a vacuum and controlling the spin qubits effectively.

• Complexity: The technology to manipulate spin qubits inside levitated FNDs requires intricate setups, including the use of electric and magnetic fields.

Applications:

• High-resolution imaging: FNDs are used in biological imaging to track cells over time due to their stability.

• Temperature sensing: They are employed in microscale temperature sensing due to their sensitivity.

• Sensors: Their ability to detect acceleration and electric fields makes them valuable in strategic industries.

• Quantum physics: FNDs doped with NV− centres can aid in exploring quantum superposition and other quantum mechanical properties.

• Gyroscopes: The Berry phase generated by rotating FNDs could lead to their use in rotation-sensing gyroscopes.

Conclusion:

FNDs, with their stable fluorescence, quantum properties, and potential industrial applications, offer promising avenues in both theoretical research and applied fields like imaging, sensing, and quantum computing. Their recent advancements in vacuum levitation showcase their growing relevance in cutting-edge technology.

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• Nano Technology

Consider the following statements: (UPSC – 2022)

1.Other than those made by humans, nanoparticles do not exist in nature.

1.Nanoparticles of some metallic oxides are used in the manufacture of some cosmetics.

1.Nanoparticles of some commercial products which enter the environment are unsafe for humans.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 3 only

(d) 2 and 3 only

Answer: d)

1.What do you understand by nanotechnology and how is it helping in the health sector? (UPSC – 2020)