The researchers employed heteroepitaxial growth technology to develop the platform. This process involves growing a crystalline layer on a substrate of a different material, allowing for the integration of different materials with varying properties.
Think of it like laying bricks on a surface that isn’t the same material as the bricks—but making sure they line up neatly. This method enabled the integration of NV centers within the diamond lattice. These centers are crucial for detecting subtle changes in magnetic fields, which is a highly useful function for monitoring EV batteries.
For creating the diamond quantum sensor platform, scientists first chose a non-diamond substrate compatible with heteroepitaxial growth. Then, by utilizing chemical vapor deposition (CVD), they deposited diamond films onto the substrates. This allowed them to have precise control over the diamond’s crystalline structure.