New Technique for Engineering Single-Photon Emitters in 2D Materials

In recent years, quantum-dot-like single-photon emitters in atomically thin van der Waals materials have become a promising platform for future on-chip scalable quantum light sources with unique advantages over existing technologies, notably the potential for site-specific engineering. However, the required cryogenic temperatures for the functionality of these sources has been an inhibitor of their full potential. Existing methods to create emitters in 2D materials face fundamental challenges in extending the working temperature while maintaining the emitter’s fabrication yield and purity. In this work, we demonstrate a method of creating site-controlled single-photon emitters in atomically thin WSe₂ with high yield utilizing independent and simultaneous strain engineering via nanoscale stressors and defect engineering via electron-beam irradiation. Many of the emitters exhibit biexciton cascaded emission, single-photon purities above 95%, and working temperatures up to 150 K. This methodology, coupled with possible plasmonic or optical micro-cavity integration, furthers the realization of scalable, room-temperature, and high-quality 2D single- and entangled-photon sources.