Singly-doped Molecular Seeding Clusters Enabling Next-generation Quantum Technologies
At this year’s Photonics West conference, Prof. David Binks from the University of Manchester presented on his collaboration with Nanoco on “Colloidal quantum dots grown from singly-doped seed clusters: a spin-photon interface for quantum memories and quantum repeaters”. This work represents an exciting breakthrough in the design of quantum dots for next-generation quantum technologies.
By designing a novel molecular cluster compound, Nanoco’s fundamental “molecular seeding” technology has been adapted to develop quantum dots that are precisely doped, in this case with a single ion of high spin manganese. Careful tailoring of the properties of the quantum dot and dopant enables the system to function as a platform for a quantum memory, a device that can store a qubit, the fundamental unit of quantum information technology.
One future application of these materials could be in the preparation of quantum repeaters, devices designed to extend the range of encrypted messaging through fibre optic communications networks. Currently, such networks are limited to distances of a few km, requiring a “trusted node” approach to connect major cities. However, this method introduces security vulnerabilities, as trusted nodes can be compromised, undermining the integrity of the system. By integrating singly-doped quantum dots into quantum repeaters, it may be possible to establish a more secure, tamper-proof communication infrastructure, ensuring the reliable exchange of confidential information over much greater distances.
Another potential application is in distributed quantum computing, which holds promise to improve the speed of complex calculations by several orders of magnitudes. This could revolutionise a broad range of critical industries, such as medicine, materials science, finance, and artificial intelligence. A feasibility study was supported by Innovate UK grant number 10030660 and the results have been published in the RSC’s Nanoscale journal: https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2025/nr/d4nr04558k. By building on the results from this project, we hope to demonstrate how this technology might be used in quantum repeater devices to enable future quantum technologies.