Collaborative Research: Single Photon Emission in Lanthanide-Doped 2D Materials & Devices

利用材料的量子特性的技术正在以比以往更快的速度发展。这些奇特的行为，几十年来只是一种智力上的好奇心，现在正改变着我们日常生活中使用的技术。这方面的前沿是能够“按需”产生单个光子的光源，即单光子发射器（SPE）。稀土元素，如铈和铒，嵌入二维（2D）半导体，如二硫化钼（MoS2），可以使量子光学平台符合直接插入传统光通信基础设施的要求。因此，主要研究人员将评估将稀土元素纳入二维半导体的影响，并探索如何调整其特性以实现可控的光产生。除了科学影响之外，该合作项目将为女性和代表性不足的少数民族研究生提供跨学科研究培训，这直接影响到扩大STEM项目参与的需求。最后，这个项目将使他们能够参加一系列的外联活动，将他们的研究和培训与大学的教育使命联系起来。技术描述。量子通信技术正在以不断加快的速度发展，现在将改变我们日常生活中使用的技术。这一进步的关键组成部分是单光子发射器（SPE）。基于点缺陷的固态spe，特别是那些具有符合电信要求的能量（即近红外（NIR）： 1320-1550 nm）的固态spe，可能会在未来极大地改变我们彼此连接的方式。镧系元素（Ln）（稀土）元素作为spe的利用可以使量子光学平台符合直接插入传统光通信基础设施的要求。主要研究人员将采用紧密耦合的实验方法来了解掺杂镧的二维半导体结构的光发射。他们将通过一系列联锁的目标来评估二维/衬底界面特性、元素选择和化合物转化过程对二维光子和电子特性的影响，这些目标包括在半导体二维材料中控制掺杂Ln元素，并将其与原子尺度结构缺陷、半导体能带结构、光学发射和电荷输运特性相关联。最终，该项目旨在展示基于掺杂镧的二维层p/n同质结和基准光电性能的电驱动SPE器件。这项工作的成功将建立对物理现象的理解，使近红外中二维层的可控光发射成为可能，为与当前半导体制造和光通信技术兼容的工程化二维光子晶体奠定基础。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Technologies are being developed at a much greater pace than ever using the quantum properties of materials. These peculiar behaviors, which for many decades were just an intellectual curiosity, are now set to transform the technologies we use in our daily lives. At the forefront of this is the development of light sources that can produce individual photons “on demand”, known as single-photon emitters (SPE). Rare-earth elements, such as cerium and erbium, embedded into two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors, such as molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), could enable a quantum optical platform that matches the requirements for direct insertion into traditional optical communication infrastructure. Therefore, the principal investigators will evaluate the impact of incorporating rare-earth elements into 2D semiconductors and explore how to tune their properties for controllable light generation. Beyond the scientific impact, this collaborative project will provide interdisciplinary research training for female and underrepresented minority graduate students, which directly impacts the need to broaden participation in STEM programs. Finally, this program will enable them to participate in a range of outreach activities that connect their research and training to the educational mission of the Universities.Technical Description. Quantum communication technologies are advancing at a continually increasing pace and are now set to transform the technologies we use in our daily lives. A key building block for this advancement is the single-photon emitter (SPE). Solid-state SPEs based on point defects, especially those with energies that match telecommunication requirements (i.e., near infrared (NIR): 1320-1550 nm), could dramatically change how we connect to one another in the future. The utilization of lanthanide (Ln) (rare-earth) elements as SPEs could enable a quantum optical platform that matches the requirements for direct insertion into traditional optical communication infrastructure. The principal investigators will employ a closely coupled combination of experimental methods to understand light emission from Ln-doped 2D semiconductor structures. They will evaluate the impact of 2D/substrate interface properties, element choice, and compound transformation processes on the 2D photonic and electronic properties through a series of interlocking objectives that include controlled doping of Ln elements in semiconducting 2D materials and correlating this with atomic-scale structural defects, semiconductor band structure, optical emission, and charge transport properties. Ultimately, the project aims to demonstrate electrically driven SPE devices based on Ln-doped 2D layer p/n homojunctions and benchmark optoelectronic performance. The success of this work will establish an understanding of the physical phenomena that enables controlled optical emission in 2D layers in the NIR, laying the groundwork for engineered 2D photonic crystals that are compatible with current semiconductor fabrication and optical communication technologies.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.