Spin-lattice relaxation of NV centers in nanodiamonds adsorbed on conducting and nonconducting surfaces

The nitrogen-vacancy (NV) color centers in nanodiamonds can be utilized as low-cost, highly versatile quantum sensors for studying surface properties in condensed matter physics through the application of relaxometry protocols. For such applications, a detailed knowledge of the intrinsic relaxation processes of NV centers in nanodiamonds is necessary. Here, we study the spin-lattice relaxation rates of NV ensembles in nanodiamonds with average diameters of 40 nm and 3µ⁢m between room temperature and ∼6K. The NV relaxation curves fit to a stretched-exponential form with a stretching exponent 𝛼≈0.7, implying the large distribution of relaxation times of individual centers within nanodiamonds. We determine the Orbach-like scattering on phonons as the leading relaxation mechanism. Finally, we discuss the viability of nanodiamonds as surface sensors when deposited on a metallic substrate and emphasize the need for well-controlled surface preparation techniques.