Molecularly doped nanodiamond

A molecularly doped nanodiamond made from the steps comprising:

• adding a dopant to a sol-gel precursor;
• synthesizing via sol-gel synthesis an amorphous carbon aerogel comprising an open pore network;
• drying the amorphous carbon aerogel;
• sintering the amorphous carbon aerogel;
• preserving the open pore network;
• loading the amorphous carbon aerogel into a diamond anvil cell;
• forming a sealed chamber around the amorphous carbon aerogel;
• flowing a noble gas into the sealed chamber;
• wherein the noble gas is one selected from the group consisting of Ar, Kr, Xe, and Ne;
• liquefying the noble gas by condensation;
• wherein the step of liquefying the noble gas by condensation comprises condensing the noble gas with liquid nitrogen or cryogen;
• allowing the liquefied noble gas to fill the open pore network of the doped amorphous carbon aerogel;
• generating noble gas defects within the doped amorphous carbon aerogel;
• wherein a uniform distribution of noble gas defects exists throughout the nanodiamond volume and characterized by a diamond lattice substantially free of ion-bombardment-induced displacement damage;
• wherein the uniform distribution of noble gas defects throughout the nanodiamond volume is characterized by an argon peak signature via Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy (EELS);
• pressurizing the diamond anvil cell;
• wherein the step of pressurizing the diamond anvil cell comprises pressures ≥20 Gpa and wherein the step of heating the doped amorphous carbon aerogel comprises temperatures ≥2000K;
• heating the doped amorphous carbon aerogel incorporating the noble gas dopants;
• and
• transforming the doped amorphous carbon aerogel incorporating the noble gas dopants into molecularly doped nanodiamond incorporating the noble gas dopants.