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

利用材料的量子特性，技术的发展速度比以往任何时候都快得多。这些奇特的行为，几十年来只是智力上的好奇，现在将改变我们在日常生活中使用的技术。在这方面，最前沿的是光源的发展，这种光源可以按需产生单个光子，称为单光子发射器(SPE)。稀土元素，如Ce和Erb，嵌入到二维二硫化钼(MoS2)等二维半导体中，可以实现符合直接插入传统光通信基础设施的要求的量子光学平台。因此，主要研究人员将评估在2D半导体中加入稀土元素的影响，并探索如何调整其性能以实现可控的发光。除了科学影响之外，这一合作项目还将为女性和代表性不足的少数族裔研究生提供跨学科的研究培训，这直接影响到扩大参与STEM项目的必要性。最后，这项计划将使他们能够参与一系列的外展活动，将他们的研究和培训与大学的教育使命联系起来。量子通信技术正在以持续增长的速度发展，现在正在改变我们在日常生活中使用的技术。这一进步的一个关键组成部分是单光子发射器(SPE)。基于点缺陷的固态SPE，特别是那些能量匹配电信要求(即近红外(NIR)：1320-1550 nm)的SPE，可能会极大地改变我们未来相互连接的方式。利用镧系(Ln)(稀土)元素作为SPE，可以实现满足直接插入传统光通信基础设施的要求的量子光学平台。主要研究人员将采用紧密结合的实验方法来了解Ln掺杂的2D半导体结构的光发射。他们将通过一系列连锁目标来评估2D/衬底界面属性、元素选择和化合物转变过程对2D光子和电子性能的影响，这些目标包括在2D半导体材料中控制Ln元素的掺杂，并将其与原子级结构缺陷、半导体能带结构、光学发射和电荷传输特性相关联。最终，该项目旨在展示基于Ln掺杂2D层p/n同质结的电驱动SPE器件和基准光电性能。这项工作的成功将建立对在近红外2D层中实现受控光学发射的物理现象的理解，为与当前半导体制造和光通信技术兼容的工程2D光子晶体奠定基础。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势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.