Amplified nanoscale detection of labeled molecules via surface electrons on diamond

Abstract

The detection of individual molecules and their dynamics is a long-standing challenge in the field of nanotechnology. In this work, we present a method that utilizes a nitrogen vacancy (NV) center and a dangling bond on the diamond surface to measure the coupling between two electronic targets tagged on a macromolecule. To achieve this, we design a multi-tone dynamical decoupling sequence that leverages the strong interaction between the nitrogen vacancy center and the dangling bond. In addition, this sequence minimizes the impact of decoherence finally resulting in an increased signal-to-noise ratio. This proposal has the potential to open up avenues for fundamental research and technological innovation in distinct areas such as biophysics and biochemistry.