Electrically driven quantum light sources from two-dimensional materials

About the Project

Supervisors:

Dr Soumya Sarkar soumya.sarkar@soton.ac.uk

Dr Makars Šiškins M.Siskins@soton.ac.uk

This project, within the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Quantum Technology Engineering at the University of Southampton (https://qte.ac.uk), carries a UKRI TechExpert enhanced annual stipend around £31k for UK students. While researching the project outlined below you will also receive substantial training in scientific, technical, and commercial skills.

Project Description:

This PhD project will develop reliable and cost-effective on-chip quantum light sources from foundry-compatible 2D materials. Using advanced nanofabrication and spectroscopy, the research will control strain, spin injection, and twist angles to create electrically driven, high-purity entangled single-photon emitter arrays that are crucial for photonic quantum information processing technologies.

Quantum entangled networks of single photons are key to photonic quantum information processing (QIP) technologies [1]. Developing reliable single-photon emitters (SPEs) in scalable materials is therefore important for on-chip quantum photonics. This PhD project aims to create cost-effective, reproducible arrays of SPEs based on atomically thin two-dimensional (2D) materials. Layered 2D materials exhibit robust single-photon emission, yet electrically generating entangled photons coupled to spin-polarised carriers remains a major hurdle [2]. Building on our recent advances in fabricating ultraclean 2D materials and metal contacts for spin injection [3], and controlled defect engineering [4], the project will investigate how surface adsorbates, strain, and interlayer twist angle influence electroluminescence from SPEs. The long-term technological goal is to find cost- and energy-effective methods to produce and control quantum emitters on chip. The student will fabricate optoelectronic devices in the Southampton Nanofabrication Centre, one of UK’s leading university cleanrooms, and will characterise and assess device performance within the Sustainable Electronic Technologies and Quantum, Light and Matter research groups. Research visits to the National Physical Laboratory and the University of Cambridge for spectroscopic characterisation will be encouraged. We welcome applications from students with backgrounds in microelectronics, materials science, solid-state physics, or electrical engineering. We strongly encourage applications from underrepresented groups and those seeking a supportive and collaborative research environment. [1] Nature Reviews Materials 3.5 (2018): 38-51. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41578-018-0008-9 [2] arXiv:2509.08259 (2025). https://www.arxiv.org/abs/2509.08259 [3] Nature Electronics (2024). https://www.nature.com/articles/s41928-024-01330-w [4] Nano Letters 24.1 (2023): 43-50. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c03113

For more information, please contact the supervisor: Dr Soumya Sarkar soumya.sarkar@soton.ac.uk

Entry Requirements:

Undergraduate degree (at least UK 2:1 honours degree, or international equivalent).

Closing Date:

31 July 2026. International applicants must apply before 31 March 2026.

Funding:

See funding notes below.

How to Apply:

Please apply via the online portal and select:

• Programme type: Research
• Academic year: 2026/27
• Full time or part time
• Faculty: Engineering and Physical Sciences

Search for programme PhD Quantum Tech Eng

Please add the name of the supervisor in section 2 of the application.

Applications should include:

• your CV (resumé)
• 2 academic references
• degree transcripts/ certificates to date
• English language qualification (if applicable)

We are committed to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusivity and give full consideration to applicants seeking part-time study. The University of Southampton takes personal circumstances into account, has onsite childcare facilities, is committed to sustainability and has been awarded the Platinum EcoAward.