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This research demonstrates the successful integration of perylene molecular emitters into hexagonal boron nitride stacks to achieve gigahertz-narrow linewidth transitions at cryogenic temperatures. By identifying specific defect sites that stabilize these molecules, the study provides a critical pathway for deterministically embedding quantum light sources within two-dimensional hetero-structure devices.
Aromatic molecular emitters in a hexagonal boron nitride stack
arXiv:2607.18427v1 Announce Type: cross Abstract: Single polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon molecules embedded in organic matrices have proven to be an excellent family of narrow-linewidth quantum emitters. Extending this host-guest setting to van der Waals materials offers the opportunity to combine the preeminent properties of molecular emitters with the access to the versatility of two-dimensional hetero-structures and devices. In this work, we incorporate perylene molecules into multi-layered hexagonal boron nitride stacks and observe gigahertz-narrow zero-phonon-line transitions at cryogenic temperatures. We unambiguously verify the origins of photon emission through vibronic spectra analysis. By combining hyperspectral localization measurements with quantum chemistry calculations, we examine the insertion mechanisms of perylene molecules in the hexagonal boron nitride stacks, and conclude that pristine hBN layers tend to expel molecules from the sandwich, while extended morphological defects, hydroxyl groups and unpassivated boron and nitrogen atoms assist to stabilize molecular bindings to hBN. Our work provides valuable insight for future work to deterministically integrate narrow-linewidth molecular emitters into van der Waals devices.
Abstract:Single polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon molecules embedded in organic matrices have proven to be an excellent family of narrow-linewidth quantum emitters. Extending this host-guest setting to van der Waals materials offers the opportunity to combine the preeminent properties of molecular emitters with the access to the versatility of two-dimensional hetero-structures and devices. In this work, we incorporate perylene molecules into multi-layered hexagonal boron nitride stacks and observe gigahertz-narrow zero-phonon-line transitions at cryogenic temperatures. We unambiguously verify the origins of photon emission through vibronic spectra analysis. By combining hyperspectral localization measurements with quantum chemistry calculations, we examine the insertion mechanisms of perylene molecules in the hexagonal boron nitride stacks, and conclude that pristine hBN layers tend to expel molecules from the sandwich, while extended morphological defects, hydroxyl groups and unpassivated boron and nitrogen atoms assist to stabilize molecular bindings to hBN. Our work provides valuable insight for future work to deterministically integrate narrow-linewidth molecular emitters into van der Waals devices.
Optics (physics.optics); Quantum Physics (quant-ph)
arXiv:2607.18427 [physics.optics]
(or arXiv:2607.18427v1 [physics.optics] for this version)
https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2607.18427 arXiv-issued DOI via DataCite (pending registration)
Full text under the publisher's open licence · 178 words
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