Ngoc My Hanh DuongGlushkov, EvgeniiChernev, AndreyNavikas, VytautasComtet, JeanMinh Anh Phan NguyenToth, MilosRadenovic, AleksandraToan Trong TranAharonovich, Igor2019-09-012019-09-012019-09-012019-08-0110.1021/acs.nanolett.9b01913https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/160743WOS:000481563800077Fluorescent nanoparticles with optically robust luminescence are imperative to applications in imaging and labeling. Here we demonstrate that hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) nanoparticles can be reliably produced using a scalable cryogenic exfoliation technique with sizes below 10 nm. The particles exhibit bright fluorescence generated by color centers that act as atomic-size quantum emitters. We analyze their optical properties, including emission wavelength, photon-statistics, and photodynamics, and show that they are suitable for far-field super-resolution fluorescence nanoscopy. Our results provide a foundation for exploration of hBN nanoparticles as candidates for bioimaging, labeling, as well as biomarkers that are suitable for quantum sensing.Chemistry, MultidisciplinaryChemistry, PhysicalNanoscience & NanotechnologyMaterials Science, MultidisciplinaryPhysics, AppliedPhysics, Condensed MatterChemistryScience & Technology - Other TopicsMaterials SciencePhysicshexagonal boron nitridenanoparticlesquantum dotsphotostabilityblinkingcelltext::journal::journal article::research article