Self-aligned patterning technique for fabricating high-performance diamond sensor arrays with nanoscale precision

Efficient, nanoscale precision alignment of defect center creation in photonics structures in challenges the realization of high-performance photonic devices and quantum technology applications. Here, we propose a facile self-aligned patterning technique based on conventional engineering technology, with doping precision that can reach ~15 nm. We demonstrate this technique by fabricating diamond nanopillar sensor arrays with high consistency and near-optimal photon counts. The sensor array achieves high yield approaching the theoretical limit, and high efficiency for filtering sensors with different numbers of nitrogen vacancy centers. Combined with appropriate crystal orientation, the system achieves a saturated fluorescence rate of 4.34 Mcps and effective fluorescence-dependent detection sensitivity of 1800 cps(−1/2) . These sensors also show enhanced spin properties in the isotope-enriched diamond. Our technique is applicable to all similar solid-state systems and could facilitate the development of parallel quantum sensing and scalable information processing.