Diamond based light-emitting diode for visible single-photon emission at room temperature

Diamond-based p-i-n light-emitting diodes capable of single-photon emission in the visible spectral region at room temperature are discussed. The diodes were fabricated on a high quality single crystal diamond grown by chemical vapor deposition. Implantation of boron and phosphorus ions followed by annealing at a temperature of 1600 degrees C has been used for doping p-type and n-type areas, respectively. Electrical characterization of the devices demonstrates clear diode behavior. Spectra of electroluminescence generated in the i-area reveal sole emission from the neutral nitrogen-vacancy (NV) defects. Photon antibunching implies single-photon character of this emission when generated by individual NV defects. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3670332]