Researchers from the University of Warsaw, in collaboration with the National University of Singapore and Radboud University, have detected single-photon emission from the layered material ZnPS₃. The finding, published in ACS Nano, marks a milestone for building quantum chips.
Single-photon sources are essential for secure quantum communication and computation. Prior work often relied on bulky or hard-to-integrate materials; ZnPS₃, a two-dimensional crystal, offers a potentially scalable and manufacturable alternative within existing semiconductor processes.
The team observed the emission from atomically thin flakes of ZnPS₃ at room temperature. The material naturally emits photons one at a time with high purity, a critical requirement for encoding quantum information without interference.
This platform could eventually integrate quantum light sources directly onto photonic circuits. However, controlling the exact location and wavelength of emission remains a challenge before practical devices emerge.
“The discovery opens a new path for scalable quantum technologies,” the researchers noted, though they caution that many engineering hurdles remain.