High sensitivity pressure and temperature quantum sensing in pentacene-doped p-terphenyl single crystals

Harpreet Singh, Noella D’Souza, Joseph Garrett, Angad Singh, Brian Blankenship, Emanuel Druga, Riccardo Montis, Liang Z. Tan and Ashok Ajoy ()
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Harpreet Singh: University of California, Department of Chemistry
Noella D’Souza: University of California, Department of Chemistry
Joseph Garrett: University of California, Department of Chemistry
Angad Singh: University of California, Department of Chemistry
Brian Blankenship: University of California, Department of Chemistry
Emanuel Druga: University of California, Department of Chemistry
Riccardo Montis: Università degli Studi di Urbino Carlo Bo, Dipartimento di Scienze Pure e Applicate (DiSPEA)
Liang Z. Tan: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Molecular Foundry
Ashok Ajoy: University of California, Department of Chemistry

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Quantum sensors’ responsiveness to their physical environment enables detection of variables such as temperature (T), pressure (P), and strain. We present a molecular platform for PT sensing using para-terphenyl crystals doped with pentacene (PDP), leveraging optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) of photoexcited triplet electron spins. We observe maximal frequency variations of df/dP=1.8 MHz/bar from 0-8 bar and df/dT=247 kHz/K from 79–330 K, over 1200 times and threefold greater, respectively, than those seen with nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond and > 85-fold greater pressure sensitivity over the previous record. Density functional theory calculations indicate picometer-level PT-induced molecular orbital shifts are measurable via ODMR. PDP offers additional advantages including high sensor doping levels, narrow ODMR linewidths, high contrast, and low-cost single crystal growth. Overall, this work reports low-cost, optically-interrogated PT sensors and lays the foundation for increased versatility of quantum sensors through synthetic molecular design.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-65508-2

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