Resonant Laser Sorting of Group-14 Color-Center Nanodiamonds

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for sorting fluorescent nanodiamond particles containing a group-14 color center, such as SiV, GeV, SnV, and PbV, are inefficient.

Innovation Solution

Irradiate a dispersion of mixed nanodiamond particles with laser light having an energy equal to or higher than the resonance absorption energy of the group-14 color center to generate optical pressure, selectively separating or concentrating ND particles containing these centers using optical pressure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If optical pressure method is used to sort fluorescent nanodiamond particles containing NV center, then separation can be achieved, but the sorting efficiency is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesorting efficiencyVSAvoidseparation effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the energy parameter of laser light from below resonance absorption energy to equal to or higher than resonance absorption energy of group-14 color centers. This parameter change generates sufficiently large optical pressure that enables efficient separation and concentration of nanodiamond particles, directly resolving the contradiction between sorting efficiency and separation effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If laser light with energy equal to or higher than resonance absorption energy is used, then optical pressure is sufficiently large for efficient separation, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseparation efficiencyVSAvoidlaser energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the laser energy parameter to be equal to or higher than the resonance absorption energy of group-14 color centers. This specific parameter range achieves the optimal balance between generating sufficient optical pressure for efficient separation and controlling energy consumption, as energies below this threshold produce insufficient optical pressure while much higher energies would be wasteful.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If conventional optical pressure method is used, then separation is possible, but the fluorescence peak line width is broad

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluorescence peak line widthVSAvoidseparation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the laser energy parameter to equal or higher than resonance absorption energy, which simultaneously achieves efficient separation (high productivity) and narrow fluorescence peak line width (high manufacturing precision). The resonance absorption condition ensures that only particles with specific color centers are excited, resulting in sharp spectral features while the generated optical pressure enables rapid separation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 method achieves efficient separation and concentration of ND particles with a narrow fluorescence peak, enhancing their suitability for bioimaging applications.

Implementation Method 1

irradiating a dispersion containing mixed particles of ND particles containing a color center of any one group 14 element selected from the group consisting of Si, Ge, Sn, and Pb (a group-14 color center) and ND particles not containing the group-14 color center with laser light having an energy equal to or higher than a resonance absorption energy of the group-14 color center and thereby selectively moving the ND particles containing the group-14 color center using a optical pressure generated by absorption of the laser light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectResonance absorption: Resonance

Implementation Method 2

selectively moving the ND particles containing the group-14 color center using a optical pressure generated by absorption of the laser light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical pressure: Radiation Pressure

Data Source

PatentEP4691978A1Method for separating or concentrating nd particles having group-14 color center
Publication Date: 2026.02.11 DAICEL CORP
  • EP4691978A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4691978A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4691978A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention provides a method for separating or concentrating nanodiamond (ND) particles containing a group-14 color center, the method including: irradiating a dispersion containing mixed particles of ND particles containing a color center of any one group 14 element selected from the group consisting of Si, Ge, Sn, and Pb (a group-14 color center) and ND particles not containing the group-14 color center with laser light having an energy equal to or higher than the resonance absorption energy of the group-14 color center; and selectively moving the ND particles containing the group-14 color center using a optical pressure generated by resonance absorption of the laser light.