About the project
This PhD project involves coordination chemistry to design new brightly luminescent lanthanide (rare-earth) complexes, with a focus on near-infrared emitters. By using molecular synthetic inorganic chemistry, we will apply these compounds as single-photon emitters and test their ability to be used in quantum photonics, such as quantum memories.
The ability to generate single photons on-demand is a crucial aspect of quantum photonics, with applications in memories, computing, and cryptography. Unlike other candidates such as quantum dots and organic dyes, using lanthanide complexes offers the unique opportunity to produce single-photon emitters which can be tailored at the single-ion level using molecular coordination chemistry.
This project will utilise synthetic organic and inorganic chemistry to develop new ultra-efficient emitters to be integrated into novel devices, with a focus on near-infrared emitting ions (e.g. Yb, Nd, Er) which offer excellent potential for combination with mature telecoms technology such fibre optics or silicon nitride waveguides.
You will acquire proficiency in synthetic organic, coordination chemistry, photoluminescence spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography.
You will have full access to a suite of techniques via state-of-the-art facilities including Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy facility, IR, HPLC and Mass-Spectrometry, in addition to world-leading X-ray diffraction facilities.
You will also participate in group meetings, school seminars and represent the group at national/international conferences. This will give you the opportunity to disseminate your research results with world-leaders in the area.
The University of Southampton will give professional training via the Quantum Technologies DTP programme and transferable skills through the PGR Development Hub which provides a suite of training courses and support services which promotes well-being and employability.
