Hydrogen incorporation in diamond: the nitrogen-vacancy-hydrogen complex

Area of Science:

• Solid State Physics
• Materials Science
• Quantum Optics

Background:

• Nitrogen-vacancy (NV) defects are crucial in diamond for quantum applications.
• Understanding defect structures is key to controlling diamond properties.
• Isotopically engineered diamond offers unique material characteristics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and characterize the nitrogen-vacancy-hydrogen complex in diamond.
• To investigate the atomic structure and symmetry of the new defect.
• To determine the conditions for observing this complex using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR).

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of freestanding, nitrogen-doped, isotopically engineered single crystal diamond via chemical vapor deposition (CVD).
• Observation of the nitrogen-vacancy-hydrogen complex using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy.
• Analysis of the defect's symmetry and charge state.

Main Results:

• Successful identification of the nitrogen-vacancy-hydrogen complex.
• The hydrogen atom is located in the vacancy of a nearest-neighbor NV defect, bonded to the nitrogen atom.
• The complex exhibits trigonal symmetry and is observed in the negative charge state (NV0) in the presence of an electron donor (e.g., substitutional nitrogen N(0)(S)).

Conclusions:

• The nitrogen-vacancy-hydrogen complex is a newly identified point defect in diamond.
• Its trigonal symmetry and specific charge state provide insights into defect formation and stability.
• This finding contributes to the fundamental understanding of defects in diamond, relevant for quantum technologies.