Studies surface and interface chemistry of diamond and other materials, including the chemical functionalization and stabilization of near-surface NV and silicon-vacancy color centers used in diamond-based quantum sensors, in collaboration with the Choy group.

Krueger's chemistry group develops diamond and nanodiamond surface chemistry, functionalization and bioconjugation that make NV centres viable, shallow, coherent quantum sensors for chemical and biological targets - the materials-chemistry enabler for NV ensemble sensing. She co-leads Stuttgart's quantum-technologies profile. In the broader landscape of NV-centre ensemble quantum sensing (DEER, nano-NMR, T1 relaxometry) operating near pT/sqrt(Hz) sensitivity, this work is enabled at the surface-chemistry level by this work.

Prawer is the founding figure of Melbourne diamond science, spanning colour-centre quantum technology, diamond surface chemistry and — unusually — clinical translation. His group developed the nitrogen-doped ultrananocrystalline diamond electrode arrays used in the Australian diamond bionic eye, a hermetically sealed, chronically implantable retinal stimulator that has been through human implantation; that is a rare example of an exotic-materials sensing/stimulation technology carried into human trials. In parallel the group works on diamond surface termination and functionalisation for near-surface NV sensing, nanodiamond bioconjugation, and diamond as a radiation-hard detector material. Positioned against the established body of NV-ensemble quantum sensing work — DEER, nanoscale NMR and T1 relaxometry protocols operating at pT/sqrt(Hz) field sensitivity — his surface- and materials-engineering work is precisely what sets the standoff distance, and hence the achievable pT/sqrt(Hz) sensitivity, of near-surface NV ensembles used for DEER and nanoscale NMR. Preferred attribute present: demonstrated human trials with a complex implanted technology.