Change in charge state of NV center caused by monovacancy formation

Effects of monovacancy formation on the charge states of nitrogen vacancy (NV) centers in nitrogen-doped diamond single crystal were investigated. Monovacancies are formed using high-energy electron beam irradiation. The ratio of the concentration of negatively charged nitrogen vacancy (NV−) centers to the total concentration of NV− centers and neutral nitrogen vacancy (NV0) centers decreases with increased concentration of monovacancies. This decrease occurs because of the reduction of the concentration of neutral substitutional nitrogen [Ns0] donating electrons to NV0 centers. Findings indicate that numerous electrons of Ns0 are transferred preferentially to monovacancies, not to NV0 centers.