Innovative Quantum Sensors Developed Using Silicon Carbide Qubits

Researchers at the HUN-REN Wigner Research Center for Physics, the Beijing Computational Science Research Center, and the University of Science and Technology of China have developed a new quantum sensing platform utilizing silicon carbide, or SiC, based spin qubits that operate at room temperature.

This innovation, published in Nature Materials, allows for the detection of weak magnetic and electric fields using qubit signals measured through near-infrared light. Senior author Adam Gali emphasized the challenge of noise interference from standard SiC surfaces, which often contain stray charges and spins that overwhelm the desired signals from quantum defects.

Instead of attempting to reduce this noise, Gali and his team engineered a new, clean surface that significantly reduces these unwanted signals, thereby enhancing the performance of the quantum sensors.

The researchers achieved this by creating a bio-inert surface that suppresses noisy interface states, allowing quantum spins located just nanometers below the surface to operate with high precision. This surface engineering not only improves the sensor's stability but also enables the use of SiC qubits in practical applications, including nanoscale magnetic field detection and real-time probing of chemical or biological processes.

The surface emits light in the near-infrared range, which penetrates biological materials effectively, making the sensor suitable for use in living tissues and reactive chemical environments. Initial tests have shown promising results, demonstrating significantly less noise and enhanced signal clarity.

Gali noted that these advances open a wide range of applications, from detecting molecular samples to developing bio-compatible quantum sensing devices that could be safely implanted inside the body. Looking forward, the team aims to refine the surface chemistry and improve the creation of shallow quantum defects to enhance the sensor's capabilities further.

They are exploring the use of isotopically purified SiC to extend the coherence time of the spins, boosting sensitivity. The goal is to transition from demonstrations to actual sensing experiments, ultimately creating a versatile, room-temperature quantum sensing tool for fields like chemistry, biology, and materials science.

This breakthrough could broaden the practical applications of quantum sensors across various industries, including telecommunications and medical diagnostics. The findings were detailed in a paper authored by Pei Li and others and published in Nature Materials in 2025.