Hao Yucheng, Yang Zhiping, Li Zeyu, Kong Xi, Tang Wenna, Xie Tianyu, Xu Shaoyi, Ye Xiangyu, Yu Pei, Wang Pengfei, Wang Ya, Qiao Zhenhua, Gao Libo, Jiang Jian-Hua, Shi Fazhan, Du Jiangfeng
CAS Key Laboratory of Microscale Magnetic Resonance and School of Physical Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China.
CAS Center for Excellence in Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China.
Natl Sci Rev. 2025 Mar 8;12(5):nwaf076. doi: 10.1093/nsr/nwaf076. eCollection 2025 May.
Quantum coherence serves as a crucial quantum resource for achieving high-sensitivity quantum sensing. Because of its long coherence time at room temperature, the nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center has emerged as a quantum sensor in various fields in recent years. While nanoscale quantum sensing at room temperature has been demonstrated for NV centers, noise on the diamond surface severely limits its further development at a higher sensitivity. Here, we utilize the hybridization between graphene and diamond surfaces to directly deplete surface unpaired electron spins, thereby achieving roughly two-fold enhancement in coherence. Through the combination of electron spin resonance spectra and first-principle calculations, we explain that this phenomenon arises from a significant reduction in electron spin density on the diamond surface due to interface electron orbital hybridization. Our research presents a new approach for solid-state quantum sensors to reach the desired sensitivity level and offers a new pathway for future studies on material interfaces.
量子相干作为实现高灵敏度量子传感的关键量子资源。由于其在室温下具有较长的相干时间，近年来氮空位（NV）中心已成为各个领域中的量子传感器。虽然已证明NV中心可在室温下进行纳米级量子传感，但金刚石表面的噪声严重限制了其在更高灵敏度下的进一步发展。在这里，我们利用石墨烯与金刚石表面之间的杂化作用直接耗尽表面未配对的电子自旋，从而使相干性提高了约两倍。通过结合电子自旋共振光谱和第一性原理计算，我们解释了这种现象是由于界面电子轨道杂化导致金刚石表面电子自旋密度显著降低而产生的。我们的研究为固态量子传感器达到所需的灵敏度水平提供了一种新方法，并为未来材料界面的研究提供了一条新途径。
