Carbon-contaminated topological defects in hexagonal boron nitride for quantum photonics
Abstract Topological defects, such as Stone-Wales defects and grain boundaries, are common in 2D materials. In this study, we investigate the intricate interplay of topological defects and carbon contamination in hexagonal boron nitride revealing an intriguing class of color centers. We demonstrate...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-04-01
|
| Series: | npj 2D Materials and Applications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41699-025-00559-z |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850042793984000000 |
|---|---|
| author | Rohit Babar Ádám Ganyecz Igor A. Abrikosov Gergely Barcza Viktor Ivády |
| author_facet | Rohit Babar Ádám Ganyecz Igor A. Abrikosov Gergely Barcza Viktor Ivády |
| author_sort | Rohit Babar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Topological defects, such as Stone-Wales defects and grain boundaries, are common in 2D materials. In this study, we investigate the intricate interplay of topological defects and carbon contamination in hexagonal boron nitride revealing an intriguing class of color centers. We demonstrate that both carbon contamination and strain can stabilize Stone-Wales configurations and give rise to emitters with desirable optical properties in the visible spectral range. Inspired by these results, we further demonstrate that carbon atoms at grain boundaries can resolve energetic B-B and N-N bonds leading to highly favorable atomic structures that may facilitate the accumulation of carbon contamination at the boundaries. Similarly to contaminated Stone-Wales defects, carbon-doped grain boundaries can also give rise to color centers emitting in the visible spectral range with short radiative lifetime and high Debye-Waller factors. Our discoveries shed light on an exciting class of single photon emitters in hBN that may be readily observed in grained samples and created by irradiating carbon containing hBN flakes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9d511b368ee34908b9bb48e0a150a727 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2397-7132 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | npj 2D Materials and Applications |
| spelling | doaj-art-9d511b368ee34908b9bb48e0a150a7272025-08-20T02:55:27ZengNature Portfolionpj 2D Materials and Applications2397-71322025-04-019111110.1038/s41699-025-00559-zCarbon-contaminated topological defects in hexagonal boron nitride for quantum photonicsRohit Babar0Ádám Ganyecz1Igor A. Abrikosov2Gergely Barcza3Viktor Ivády4Wigner Research Centre for PhysicsWigner Research Centre for PhysicsDepartment of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping UniversityWigner Research Centre for PhysicsMTA-ELTE Lendület “Momentum” NewQubit Research GroupAbstract Topological defects, such as Stone-Wales defects and grain boundaries, are common in 2D materials. In this study, we investigate the intricate interplay of topological defects and carbon contamination in hexagonal boron nitride revealing an intriguing class of color centers. We demonstrate that both carbon contamination and strain can stabilize Stone-Wales configurations and give rise to emitters with desirable optical properties in the visible spectral range. Inspired by these results, we further demonstrate that carbon atoms at grain boundaries can resolve energetic B-B and N-N bonds leading to highly favorable atomic structures that may facilitate the accumulation of carbon contamination at the boundaries. Similarly to contaminated Stone-Wales defects, carbon-doped grain boundaries can also give rise to color centers emitting in the visible spectral range with short radiative lifetime and high Debye-Waller factors. Our discoveries shed light on an exciting class of single photon emitters in hBN that may be readily observed in grained samples and created by irradiating carbon containing hBN flakes.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41699-025-00559-z |
| spellingShingle | Rohit Babar Ádám Ganyecz Igor A. Abrikosov Gergely Barcza Viktor Ivády Carbon-contaminated topological defects in hexagonal boron nitride for quantum photonics npj 2D Materials and Applications |
| title | Carbon-contaminated topological defects in hexagonal boron nitride for quantum photonics |
| title_full | Carbon-contaminated topological defects in hexagonal boron nitride for quantum photonics |
| title_fullStr | Carbon-contaminated topological defects in hexagonal boron nitride for quantum photonics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Carbon-contaminated topological defects in hexagonal boron nitride for quantum photonics |
| title_short | Carbon-contaminated topological defects in hexagonal boron nitride for quantum photonics |
| title_sort | carbon contaminated topological defects in hexagonal boron nitride for quantum photonics |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41699-025-00559-z |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rohitbabar carboncontaminatedtopologicaldefectsinhexagonalboronnitrideforquantumphotonics AT adamganyecz carboncontaminatedtopologicaldefectsinhexagonalboronnitrideforquantumphotonics AT igoraabrikosov carboncontaminatedtopologicaldefectsinhexagonalboronnitrideforquantumphotonics AT gergelybarcza carboncontaminatedtopologicaldefectsinhexagonalboronnitrideforquantumphotonics AT viktorivady carboncontaminatedtopologicaldefectsinhexagonalboronnitrideforquantumphotonics |