Isotope engineering for spin defects in van der Waals materials

Ruotian Gong, Xinyi Du, Eli Janzen, Vincent Liu, Zhongyuan Liu, Guanghui He, Bingtian Ye, Tongcang Li, Norman Y. Yao, James H. Edgar, Erik A. Henriksen and Chong Zu ()
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Ruotian Gong: Washington University
Xinyi Du: Washington University
Eli Janzen: Kansas State University
Vincent Liu: Harvard University
Zhongyuan Liu: Washington University
Guanghui He: Washington University
Bingtian Ye: Harvard University
Tongcang Li: Purdue University
Norman Y. Yao: Harvard University
James H. Edgar: Kansas State University
Erik A. Henriksen: Washington University
Chong Zu: Washington University

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Spin defects in van der Waals materials offer a promising platform for advancing quantum technologies. Here, we propose and demonstrate a powerful technique based on isotope engineering of host materials to significantly enhance the coherence properties of embedded spin defects. Focusing on the recently-discovered negatively charged boron vacancy center ( $${{{{{{{{\rm{V}}}}}}}}}_{{{{{{{{\rm{B}}}}}}}}}^{-}$$ V B − ) in hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), we grow isotopically purified h10B15N crystals. Compared to $${{{{{{{{\rm{V}}}}}}}}}_{{{{{{{{\rm{B}}}}}}}}}^{-}$$ V B − in hBN with the natural distribution of isotopes, we observe substantially narrower and less crowded $${{{{{{{{\rm{V}}}}}}}}}_{{{{{{{{\rm{B}}}}}}}}}^{-}$$ V B − spin transitions as well as extended coherence time T2 and relaxation time T1. For quantum sensing, $${{{{{{{{\rm{V}}}}}}}}}_{{{{{{{{\rm{B}}}}}}}}}^{-}$$ V B − centers in our h10B15N samples exhibit a factor of 4 (2) enhancement in DC (AC) magnetic field sensitivity. For additional quantum resources, the individual addressability of the $${{{{{{{{\rm{V}}}}}}}}}_{{{{{{{{\rm{B}}}}}}}}}^{-}$$ V B − hyperfine levels enables the dynamical polarization and coherent control of the three nearest-neighbor 15N nuclear spins. Our results demonstrate the power of isotope engineering for enhancing the properties of quantum spin defects in hBN, and can be readily extended to improving spin qubits in a broad family of van der Waals materials.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44494-3

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