title: Engineering and Localization of Quantum Emitters in Large Hexagonal Boron Nitride Layers.
abstract: Hexagonal boron nitride is a wide-band-gap van der Waals material that has recently emerged as a promising platform for quantum photonics experiments. In this work, we study the formation and localization of narrowband quantum emitters in large flakes (up to tens of micrometers wide) of hexagonal boron nitride. The emitters can be activated in as-grown hexagonal boron nitride by electron irradiation or high-temperature annealing, and the emitter formation probability can be increased by ion implantation or focused laser irradiation of the as-grown material. Interestingly, we show that the emitters are always localized at the edges of the flakes, unlike most luminescent point defects in three-dimensional materials. Our results constitute an important step on the roadmap of deploying hexagonal boron nitride in nanophotonics applications.
authors.affiliation: School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney , Ultimo NSW 2007, Australia.
authors.forename: Sumin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney , Ultimo NSW 2007, Australia.
authors.forename: Toan Trong
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.affiliation: School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney , Ultimo NSW 2007, Australia.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Elbadawi
authors.affiliation: School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney , Ultimo NSW 2007, Australia.
authors.forename: Charlene
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lobo
authors.affiliation: Centre for Micro-Photonics, Swinburne University of Technology , Hawthorn, Victoria 3122, Australia.
authors.forename: Xuewen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Centre for Micro-Photonics, Swinburne University of Technology , Hawthorn, Victoria 3122, Australia.
authors.forename: Saulius
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Juodkazis
authors.affiliation: School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney , Ultimo NSW 2007, Australia.
authors.forename: Gediminas
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Seniutinas
authors.affiliation: School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney , Ultimo NSW 2007, Australia.
authors.forename: Milos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toth
authors.affiliation: School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney , Ultimo NSW 2007, Australia.
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Aharonovich
keywords: 2D materials; defect engineering; hexagonal boron nitride; ion implantation; luminescence; nanophotonics; quantum emitters