Diamond Color Centre Sensor for Nanoscale Field Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current sensors, such as piezoelectric and piezomagnetic sensors, face limitations in sensitivity due to electrical noise and large probe sizes, which restrict their ability to detect changes in pressure, temperature, and electric/magnetic fields at a nanoscale with high spatial resolution and integration.

Innovation Solution

A hybrid sensor comprising a diamond substrate with color centers and a piezomagnetic or piezoelectric primary element that interacts through stray electric or magnetic fields, allowing for the detection of changes in the primary element by monitoring corresponding changes in the color centers, enabling mechanical force, temperature, or electric property sensing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If piezoelectric or piezomagnetic sensors are used to detect pressure, temperature, and electric/magnetic fields, then sensing capability is provided, but sensitivity is limited due to electrical noise and large probe sizes

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesensitivityVSAvoidelectrical noise

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces conventional electrical sensing mechanisms with optical detection methods. Color centers in diamond substrates serve as quantum sensors that detect physical quantities through optical transitions rather than electrical signals, thereby eliminating electrical noise and achieving higher sensitivity in pressure, temperature, and field measurements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs color centers localized within diamond substrates as nanoscale sensing elements. These localized quantum defects provide high spatial resolution sensing capability, enabling precise measurements at specific locations without the probe size limitations of conventional sensors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Measurement precision

If conventional piezoelectric or piezomagnetic sensors are used, then sensing function is achieved, but spatial resolution is limited due to large probe sizes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespatial resolutionVSAvoidprobe size

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the sensing function from bulk piezoelectric/piezomagnetic materials and concentrates it into individual color center defects within diamond. This extraction enables nanoscale spatial resolution by isolating the sensing capability to atomic-scale defect centers rather than requiring large sensor probes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If conventional sensors are used for high integration applications, then sensing is provided, but integration capability is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveintegration capabilityVSAvoidintegration difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple sensing capabilities (pressure, temperature, electric field, magnetic field detection) into a single diamond substrate containing color centers. This unified quantum sensing platform enables high integration by combining multiple sensor functions that would traditionally require separate devices, reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal quantum sensor based on color centers in diamond that can detect multiple physical quantities (pressure, temperature, electric fields, magnetic fields) through a single platform. This multi-functional capability enables high integration applications where one sensor system replaces multiple specialized sensors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The hybrid sensor achieves high sensitivity and nano-scale spatial resolution, capable of measuring weak pressures, forces, and electric fields with precision beyond sub-kPa, sub-pico-Newton, and sub-mK levels, suitable for applications like electronic skins and interactive devices.

Implementation Method 1

a first piezomagnetic or piezoelectric primary element, which primary element is arranged to interact with the colour centre(s) of the first diamond substrate by means of either a stray electric field or stray magnetic field produced by the primary element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezomagnetic effect: Piezomagnetism

Implementation Method 2

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 3

electron spins in a particular kind of colour centre, a nitrogen vacancy centre (NV centre), can be polarised and read out optically with the method of confocal fluorescence spectroscopy

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectColor center interaction with electromagnetic fields:

Data Source

PatentEP3132278B1Sensor comprising a piezomagnetic or piezoelectric element on a diamond substrate with a colour centre

Publication Date: 2021.03.31 ELEMENT SIX TECH LTD

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Figure 1c

AI summary

A sensor (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) comprising a first diamond substrate (9) with at least one colour centre (15), the sensor (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) further comprising a first piezomagnetic (10) or piezoelectric primary element (11), which primary element (10, 11) is arranged to interact with the colour centre(s) (15) of the first diamond substrate (9).