In-Situ Studies of Stress Environment in Amorphous Solids Using Negatively Charged Nitrogen Vacancy Centers in Nanodiamond

Abstract

Amorphous solids, which show characteristic differences from crystals, are common in daily usage. Glasses, gels, and polymers are familiar examples, and polymers are particularly important in terms of their role in construction and crafting. Previous studies have mainly focused on the bulk properties of polymeric products, and the local properties are less discussed. Here, we designed a distinctive protocol using the negatively charged nitrogen vacancy center in nanodiamond to study properties inside polymeric products in situ. Choosing the curing of poly dimethylsiloxane and the polymerization of cyanoacrylate as subjects of investigation, we measured the time dependence of local pressure and strain in the materials during the chemical processes.