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要快得多。这些奇怪的行为，几十年来只是一种智力上的好奇心，现在正在改变我们日常生活中使用的技术。在这方面的最前沿是开发可以“按需”产生单个光子的光源，称为单光子发射器（SPE）。稀土元素，如铈和铒，嵌入到二维（2D）半导体中，如二硫化钼（MoS 2），可以实现量子光学平台，满足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2D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，这个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的研究培训，这直接影响到扩大STEM项目参与的必要性。最后，该计划将使他们能够参加一系列的推广活动，将他们的研究和培训与大学的教育使命联系起来。技术说明量子通信技术正在以不断增长的速度发展，现在将改变我们日常生活中使用的技术。这一进步的关键构建块是单光子发射器（SPE）。基于点缺陷的固态SPE，特别是那些能量符合电信要求的SPE（即，近红外（NIR）：1320-1550 nm），可能会极大地改变我们未来彼此连接的方式。利用镧系（Ln）（稀土）元素作为SPE可以实现量子光学平台，该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组合来了解Ln掺杂2D半导体结构的光发射。他们将通过一系列互锁目标评估2D/衬底界面特性，元素选择和化合物转化过程对2D光子和电子特性的影响，这些目标包括半导体2D材料中Ln元素的受控掺杂，并将其与原子级结构缺陷，半导体能带结构，光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同质结和基准光电性能的电驱动SPE器件。这项工作的成功将建立一个物理现象的理解，使控制光学发射在2D层的近红外，该奖项反映了NSF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进行评估，被认为值得支持审查标准。

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.