Deterministic Fabrication of Highly Reproducible Monochromatic Quantum Emitters in Hexagonal Boron Nitride

Abstract

Quantum emitters in hexagonal boron nitride are important room temperature single photon sources. However, conventional fabrication methods yield quantum emitters with dispersed and inconsistent spectral profiles, limiting their potential for practical quantum applications, which demands reproducible high quality single photon sources. Here, the authors report deterministic creation of highly reproducible monochromatic quantum emitters by applying carbon-ion implantation on freestanding hexagonal boron nitride flakes, while a carbon mask with suitable thickness was adapted to optimize the implantation results. Quantum emitters fabricated using this approach exhibited thermally limited monochromaticity, with an emission center wavelength of 590.7 ± 2.7 nm, a narrow full width half maximum of 7.1 ± 1.7 nm, an emission rate of 1 MHz without optical engineering, and exceptional stability under ambient conditions. Density functional theory calculations and scanning transmission electron microscopy suggest that these emitters are comprised of boron centered carbon tetramers. This method provides a reliable single photon source for optical quantum computing and potential future industry-scale applications.