Zinc Oxide Hosts First Molybdenum-Vacancy Spin Qubit

Researchers at SKKU have identified the first atomic defect structure in zinc oxide suitable for a spin qubit, a core component for future quantum technologies. The collaborative team, working with the University of Wisconsin, Madison and the University of Washington, published their findings in the journal PRX Quantum, suggesting a potential alternative to diamond as the leading material for these devices. Zinc oxide is magnetically quiet, containing almost no nuclear spins, and can be grown as ultra-high-purity crystals, while diamond is difficult to grow as large-area, high-quality crystals and is poorly suited to standard semiconductor fabrication.

Professor Hosung Seo explains, “This work is the first to show that a robust, deep-level spin qubit is feasible in zinc oxide, a representative oxide semiconductor,” potentially enabling scalable quantum devices built on established semiconductor fabrication techniques. The search for stable spin qubits has shifted toward zinc oxide, a material offering a potential solution to limitations hindering diamond-based quantum technologies. This achievement addresses a critical challenge; diamond, while a leading candidate, presents difficulties in large-scale crystal growth and compatibility with standard semiconductor manufacturing processes. Zinc oxide’s appeal lies in its magnetically quiet nature and its ability to be grown as ultra-high-purity crystals.

The team employed advanced quantum simulations to systematically evaluate potential defects, ultimately designing a ‘molybdenum, oxygen-vacancy complex,’ in which a molybdenum (Mo) atom replaces a zinc (Zn) atom next to a missing oxygen atom. Analysis revealed this defect emits bright, efficient light with a low Huang-Rhys factor, indicating a sharp emission ideal for quantum light sources, surpassing previously known defects in zinc oxide.

The team further showed that the defect’s electron spin can stably retain quantum information for approximately 4 milliseconds, even amidst magnetic noise. This work is the first to show that a robust, deep-level spin qubit is feasible in zinc oxide, a representative oxide semiconductor. Hosung Seo, Professor of Quantum Information Engineering at SKKU The pursuit of stable spin qubits is expanding beyond diamond, traditionally the frontrunner, as researchers confront challenges in large-scale fabrication and integration of diamond-based quantum devices. To identify a suitable defect structure within ZnO, the team employed advanced first-principles quantum simulations, systematically evaluating potential candidates across the periodic table. Importantly, the defect exhibits a low Huang-Rhys factor, signifying minimal energy loss to crystal vibrations and confirming the potential for sharp, well-defined light emission. A collaborative team led by Professor Hosung Seo of SKKU is developing spin qubits within zinc oxide semiconductors. Their research, recently published in PRX Quantum, details a molybdenum, oxygen-vacancy complex exhibiting properties ideal for quantum information storage and retrieval. Unlike the leading nitrogen-vacancy center in diamond, zinc oxide offers advantages in fabrication and scalability, as it’s already established within the semiconductor industry and can be grown into ultra-high-purity crystals. This stability, combined with strong spin-orbit coupling and a symmetric structure, allows for high-fidelity spin state determination with a single measurement, which is essential for advancing quantum error correction and building robust quantum networks, potentially leading to integrated, scalable quantum devices. Source: https://www.spressnews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=138555 Stay currentSee today’s quantum computing news on Quantum Zeitgeist for the latest breakthroughs in qubits, hardware, algorithms, and industry deals. Tags: Dr. Donovan Dr. Donovan is a futurist and technology writer covering the quantum revolution. Where classical computers manipulate bits that are either on or off, quantum machines exploit superposition and entanglement to process information in ways that classical physics cannot. Dr. Donovan tracks the full quantum landscape: fault-tolerant computing, photonic and superconducting architectures, post-quantum cryptography, and the geopolitical race between nations and corporations to achieve quantum advantage. The decisions being made now, in research labs and government offices around the world, will determine who controls the most powerful computers ever built. Latest Posts by Dr. Donovan: Quantum Hall Edges Show Directional Response at 1/m Filling July 28, 2026 Quemix & Sumitomo Rubber Scale Readout With Fewer Quantum Gates July 28, 2026 Optical Setup Probes Limits of Quantum Time Travel July 28, 2026