About the project
Two dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vdW) materials, such as transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) are emerging as revolutionary components in nanophotonics. Recently, defects and strains in these vdW materials have attracted considerable interest as they can be engineered to realise quantum light emission, such as single-photon emitters, a crucial element for the development of quantum information technologies.
We propose a revolutionary approach based on wafer-scale 2D monolayers grown by van der Waals Epitaxy. Unlike the current 2D flakes, typically a few tenths of micrometers, which are prepared by various chemical vapour deposition or exfoliation processes, our wafer-scale 2D monolayers are compatible with the current CMOS process. This would make it much easier to control the defects and strains at ideal locations over a large-scale fabrication process. This innovative strategy will open up a full control of the light-matter interaction without compromising the possibility of locating and manipulating defects/strains in the 2D vdW materials.
Waveguides and resonators/photonic crystals can be further integrated on the surface of vdW materials by nanofabrication process to enhance and control of light emission in order to move towards room-temperature operation of multipurpose scalable quantum devices.
You will work with a multidisciplinary team using state-of-the-art fabrication and characterisation equipment in collaboration with academic and industrial partners in the UK. You will gain a wide variety of technical and professional skills and will have the opportunity to collaborate and publish high impact work.
The University of Southampton is committed into sustaining an inclusive environment for all students and staff. We hold an Athena SWAN Silver Award and work continuously to improve equality in the workplace and encourage a work-life balance. The Zepler Institute is exclusively a research School and home to over 200 researchers working in all areas of photonics. It offers a unique, interdisciplinary, friendly and supportive environment in which to pursue a PhD.
