Award Abstract # 1809800
Objective-first sorting and time resolved diamond magnetic microscopy of superparamagnetic nanoparticles

NSF Org: DMR
Division Of Materials Research
Recipient: UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO
Initial Amendment Date: August 30, 2018
Latest Amendment Date: May 28, 2021
Award Number: 1809800
Award Instrument: Continuing Grant
Program Manager: Tom Oder
DMR
 Division Of Materials Research
MPS
 Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences
Start Date: September 1, 2018
End Date: August 31, 2021 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount: $389,999.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date: $395,999.00
Funds Obligated to Date: FY 2018 = $245,000.00
FY 2019 = $80,000.00

FY 2020 = $64,999.00

FY 2021 = $6,000.00
History of Investigator:
  • Victor Acosta (Principal Investigator)
    vmacosta@unm.edu
  • Abdelghani Laraoui (Former Principal Investigator)
  • Victor Acosta (Former Co-Principal Investigator)
Recipient Sponsored Research Office: University of New Mexico
1 UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO
ALBUQUERQUE
NM  US  87131-0001
(505)277-4186
Sponsor Congressional District: 01
Primary Place of Performance: University of New Mexico
1313 Goddard SE
Albuquerque
NM  US  87106-4343
Primary Place of Performance
Congressional District:
01
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): F6XLTRUQJEN4
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s): CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS,
DMR SHORT TERM SUPPORT
Primary Program Source: 01001819DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
01001920DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT

01002021DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT

01002122DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
Program Reference Code(s): 7237, 8614, 9150, 9251
Program Element Code(s): 171000, 171200
Award Agency Code: 4900
Fund Agency Code: 4900
Assistance Listing Number(s): 47.049

ABSTRACT

Nontechnical abstract: Magnetic nanoparticle research has seen a flurry of activity in recent years, owing to potential applications in biomedical imaging and nanotechnology. However there is presently a lack of tools for quantitative magnetic measurements of individual nanoparticles. The goal of this research is to develop new strategies for high throughput, high spatio-temporal resolution characterization of individual magnetic nanoparticles. The magnetic properties of thousands of individual nanoparticles are simultaneously characterized using a new type of magnetic microscope based on synthetic diamond chips. Unlike existing techniques, the diamond-chip platform works at room temperature and offers high throughput (greater than 1000 individual particles per 10 min). The project aims to correlate magnetic measurements for each individual nanoparticle with its composition, size, shape, and structure. Finally, the proposed research also aims to educate and train diverse groups of high school students, undergraduates, and graduate students, including under-represented groups.

Technical abstract. The goal of this research is to develop alternative strategies for high-sensitivity, parallel characterization of individual magnetic nanoparticles. The research project aims to study the magnetic dynamics of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles with 15-25 nm diameter, with a goal of improving their applicability in nanoscience applications. The magnetic properties of thousands of individual nanoparticles are simultaneously characterized using a magnetic microscope based on color centers doped near the surface of a diamond chip. Correlative transmission electron microscopy and magnetic images of numerous individual nanoparticles is used to elucidate the relationship between nanoparticle size, shape, magnetization relaxation, and hysteresis curve properties. A second aim of this research project is to study the correlation of composition, morphology, and magnetic dynamics of small transition metallic magnetic nanoparticles with a size range (2-10 nm) and establish a fundamental understanding of the effect of size, surface structure, and inter-particle dipolar interactions on their magnetic properties. The target magnetic sensitivity of 10 nT in 1 second integration time for a 400 nm x 400 nm pixel is sufficient to characterize particles down to 2 nm in diameter.

This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS RESEARCH

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Fescenko, Ilja and Jarmola, Andrey and Savukov, Igor and Kehayias, Pauli and Smits, Janis and Damron, Joshua and Ristoff, Nathaniel and Mosavian, Nazanin and Acosta, Victor M. "Diamond magnetometer enhanced by ferrite flux concentrators" Physical Review Research , v.2 , 2020 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.2.023394 Citation Details
Silani, Yaser and Hubert, Forrest and Acosta, Victor M. "Stimulated Emission Depletion Microscopy with Diamond Silicon Vacancy Centers" ACS Photonics , v.6 , 2019 10.1021/acsphotonics.9b01135 Citation Details

PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT

Disclaimer

This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.

Intellectual Merit. Magnetic microscopes based on diamond quantum sensors were constructed and used to study the magnetic dynamics of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) with 15-25 nm diameter, with a goal of improving their applicability in biomedicine. Correlative electron microscopy and magnetic images of numerous individual SPIONs were analyzed to elucidate the relationship between SPION size, shape, magnetization relaxation, and hysteresis curve properties. 

The work was presented at more than a dozen conference presentations and seminars and colloquium at universities throughout the world.

This work is likely to have an impact on the development of biomagnetic probes. In particular, new methods of characterizing the magnetic properties of individual superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles have been developed and new methods for characterizing the time-resolved magnetic responses of nanoparticles using diamond quantum sensors have been demonstrated.

The methods developed here may find application in new nanoscale optical characterization techniques. These methods are described in: Y. Silani*, F. Hubert*, V. M. Acosta, "Stimulated emission depletion microscopy with diamond silicon vacancy centers."  ACS Photonics, 6 2577 (2019).

The methods developed here may find application as ultrasensitive sensors for navigation or medical imaging. These methods are described in: I. Fescenko, A. Jarmola, I. Savukov, P. Kehayias, J. Smits, J. Damron, N. Ristoff, N. Mosavian, V. M. Acosta, "Diamond magnetometer enhanced by ferrite flux concentrators." Physical Review Research 2, 023394 (2020).

The methods developed here may be used to search for new particles and forces which may be responsible for the mysterious "dark matter". These methods are described in: P.-H. Chu*, N. Ristoff*, J. Smits, N. Jackson, Y. J. Kim, I. Savukov, V. M. Acosta, "Proposal for the search for new spin interactions at the micrometer scale using diamond quantum sensors." arXiv:2112.14882 (2021).

Broader Impacts. Two graduate students have been trained in quantum sensing. Both passed their PhD candidacy exams and will soon enter the workforce as PhDs. Three undergraduate students have participated in research experiences for this project.

In 2021, Acosta and colleagues initiated the Quantum Undergraduate Research Experience at the Center for High Technology Materials (QU-REACH). https://qureach.unm.edu/. The program is available to undergraduates in the state of New Mexico and offers a paid ($6k), faculty-supervised, 10-week summer research experience. PI Acosta served as program director and mentored 2 students under the program. One of these students was supported by a DMR REU supplement. Participants also attended a QU-REACH seminar series which provided a general background in Quantum Technologies from active researchers in the field. The program concluded with a poster session, which was widely attended, where students printed out a professional conference-style poster and presented their research to faculty, students, postdocs, and other researchers at UNM. The program was reported on in a UNM News article, http://news.unm.edu/news/new-summer-program-in-quantum-technologies-provides-undergrad-research-opportunities. The program will continue in 2022 and annually for the foreseeable future.

 


Last Modified: 01/20/2022
Modified by: Victor M Acosta

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