Scientists from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have made a ground-breaking development in the field of quantum computing by creating a new design concept for carbon quantum materials. Published in the journal Nature Chemistry, the study introduces a unique magnetic nanographic structure in the shape of a butterfly, which has the potential to revolutionize information processing and data storage technologies.
Led by Associate Professor Lu Zun and Professor Wu Jeshan from the Faculty of Chemistry at NUS, the research team collaborated with international colleagues to focus on developing small magnets and quantum bits essential for quantum computers. The nanographic structure, made up of graphene molecules, exhibits exceptional magnetic properties attributed to the behavior of specific electrons in carbon atoms’ π-orbitals.
The researchers designed a structure comprising four rounded triangles, each housing a non-ire π-electron responsible for the material’s magnetic properties. The precise arrangement of the π-electrons in the nanographene results in this unique butterfly shape. According to Professor Lu, creating interconnected spins in such systems is a challenging yet crucial step in constructing scalable and complex quantum networks.
To create the “butterfly” nanographene, a special molecular precursor was developed and utilized in a new chemical reaction on a vacuum surface to control the material’s shape and structure at the atomic level. Using advanced scanning microscope technology with an ultra-sharp probe and a nickelocene tip as an atomic force sensor, the team successfully measured the butterfly-shaped nanographene.
This breakthrough not only addresses current challenges but also presents new opportunities for precise control of magnetic properties at the microscopic level, promising significant advancements in quantum material research. Professor Lu highlighted that this knowledge paves the way for developing a new generation of organic quantum materials with tailored quantum spin architectures. In the future, the scientists aim to measure spin dynamics and coherence time at the molecular level and control these characteristics effectively, marking a significant step towards enhancing information processing and storage capabilities.