Abstract
The present study reports on an innovative method to prepare discrete diamond nanoparticles or nanodiamonds (NDs) with high structural and optical quality through top-down approach by controlled oxidation of pre-synthesized nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) film. These NDs are studied for their structural and optical properties using atomic force microscopy (AFM), Raman and fluorescence (FL) spectroscopy. While AFM analysis confirms uniform distribution of discrete NDs with different sizes varying from a few tens of nanometers to about a micron, spectroscopic investigations reveal the presence of impurity - vacancy related color centers exhibiting FL at 637 and 738 nm as a function of particle size. In addition, an intense emission originating from vacancy centers associated with N and Si (SiV−) is observed for all NDs at the temperature close to liquid nitrogen. A detailed spectral analysis is carried out on the structural defects in these NDs. The full width at half maximum of diamond Raman band (~1332 cm−1) is found to be as narrow as 1.5 cm−1 which reveals the superior structural quality of these NDs. Further, mapping of diamond Raman and FL spectra of SiV− confirm the uniform distribution of NDs throughout the substrate. The narrow line widths and a minimal shift in peak positions of Raman and FL spectra endorse this aspect.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
