Quantum Leap in 2D Materials: Near-Perfect Defects in h-BN Enable Room-Temperature Qubits

Defect-based quantum emitter in 2D material

Quantum computing is inching closer to reality — thanks to defect engineering in 2D materials. In a recent study published in Science Advances, a team of researchers led by Rice University demonstrated a new method to create stable, bright, and reproducible quantum emitters in hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) thin films. The breakthrough? Turning "defects" into feature-rich quantum light sources that work at room temperature.

Why Defects Matter in Quantum Technology

In classical computing, information is stored as bits — either a 0 or a 1. But in quantum computing, the basic unit is a qubit, which can be 0, 1, or both at once. To make quantum computing scalable, scientists need robust, reproducible ways to create and manipulate these qubits. One promising strategy is to embed single-photon emitters (SPEs) into solid-state materials like h-BN.

These SPEs arise from atomic-level defects in the crystal lattice that can emit exactly one photon at a time — a critical requirement for quantum communication and cryptography systems. However, finding ways to create such emitters in a controllable, scalable, and low-cost manner has been an immense challenge.

Carbon-Doped h-BN: Scalable Quantum Emitters

The Rice team used a process called pulsed laser deposition (PLD) to grow thin films of h-BN directly on sapphire substrates while incorporating carbon atoms. These carbon atoms naturally formed "defect centers" within the h-BN lattice — locations that emit pure single photons under excitation.

Unlike previous approaches that relied on high temperatures or post-processing treatments, this method integrates both synthesis and doping in a single step. The result? A cleaner, reproducible process that offers a pathway to mass production of quantum-grade SPEs.

High Purity, High Stability

Characterization of the carbon-doped h-BN films showed that they produce bright, linearly polarized, and highly stable single-photon emissions — even under continuous excitation. Photoluminescence measurements and photon correlation data confirmed a near-perfect SPE performance.

The defect centers created in this study are remarkably stable at room temperature — eliminating the need for cryogenic cooling, which is a major bottleneck in current quantum technologies.

Implications for Quantum Photonics and Beyond

This breakthrough opens the door to scalable integration of quantum emitters into photonic chips, sensors, and secure communication systems. Moreover, it sets a new benchmark for defect engineering in 2D materials, extending applications to areas like quantum encryption, on-chip quantum computing, and ultra-sensitive detectors.

🔗 Original article published by Phys.org: https://phys.org/news/2025-06-defects-2d-material-quantum-bits.html

📖 Full study in Science Advances: https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adv2899

Sponsored by PWmat (Lonxun Quantum) – a leading developer of GPU-accelerated materials simulation software for cutting-edge quantum, energy, and semiconductor research. Learn more about our solutions at: https://www.pwmat.com/en

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