Single-photon emitters (SPEs), or quantum emitters, are important for a number of emerging photonic quantum technologies. Recently, 2D layered materials have been intensively studied as a novel solid-state quantum emitter platform. As 2D SPE research has primarily focused on the visible spectral range, a 2D-based quantum light source emitting at wavelengths beyond 1 um has yet to be reported. Such near-infrared (NIR) SPEs are highly desirable as telecommunication band emission represents a key building block to the development of fiber-based quantum communication technologies. I present the first observation of NIR SPEs in 2D, atomically-thin, molybdenum ditelluride (MoTe2). The emission of quantized light is induced through the deterministic implantation of localized strain using a scalable, nanopillar-based, strain engineering technique. These localized emitters show bright, narrow-bandwidth photoluminescence (PL). We observe PL emission at center wavelengths of ranging from 1100 nm to 1600 nm with linewidths much narrower than those of delocalized excitons. Cross-polarization of adjacent defect emission peaks was observed, suggesting a spontaneous energy splitting of fine-structure levels. Magneto-PL experiments reveal the quantum emitters have large g-factors. Photon lifetime and pump-power dependent PL measurements were conducted to understand the carrier dynamics of the localized emitters. Finally, time-dependent PL measurements of the localized MoTe2 emitters show no evidence of photon bleaching, blinking, or spectrum diffusion in the time domain, suggesting the quantum emitters are photon stable. These newly discovered NIR quantum emitters extend the emission range of 2D SPEs to the NIR regime for the first time, offering new opportunities for the development of next-generation fiber-based quantum communication and quantum information applications.

Near-infrared quantum emitters in atomically-thin molybdenum ditelluride

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

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