MARCH 25, 2026 -- An international research team led by scientists from Skoltech has developed a method to position molecules on the surface of ultrathin materials with unprecedented precision using molecular DNA self-assembly, enabling the creation of quantum light sources. The results, published in the journal Light: Science & Applications, pave the way for the production of compact and efficient components for future quantum computers and secure communication networks.

Two-dimensional materials such as molybdenum disulfide are promising candidates for quantum light sources due to their ability to emit photons under laser excitation. However, until now, scientists have been unable to precisely control the location of emission centers — they emerged randomly upon ion beam irradiation or mechanical deformation of the material.

The authors of the study proposed a different approach. The research is based on the DNA origami method, which allows the construction of nanoscale objects of a specified shape from DNA molecules. Triangular structures measuring 127 nanometers were assembled, each carrying 18 thiol molecules. These structures were placed onto a silicon chip with a lithographic pattern. The positioning yield of each DNA origami structure at its designated location exceeded 90 percent, significantly surpassing the statistical limit of traditional single molecule deposition methods.

“After the DNA triangles were fixed on the substrate, an atomically thin layer of molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) was transferred onto this structure using a dry transfer method. The thiol groups chemically bond with defects in the MoS₂ crystal lattice — so-called sulfur vacancies — creating point traps. When such a hybrid material is irradiated with a laser, the excitation (exciton) moves through the MoS₂ layer but falls into the trap created by the molecule. There, the energy is released in the form of a single photon,” explained Anvar Baimuratov, an associate professor at the Skoltech Engineering Physics Center, the head of the Quantum Design Research Group, co-author of the study.

The positioning of the sources was achieved with an accuracy of 13 nanometers. The lifetime of the emitters was several nanoseconds, which is three orders of magnitude shorter than that of emitters created by ion irradiation. The developed method can be applied not only to molybdenum disulfide but also to other two-dimensional materials, including graphene. Combined with parallel lithography techniques such as nanoimprint lithography, the technology can be scaled up for the production of larger wafers.

“DNA for us is not just a carrier of genetic information but a universal building material. We used it as a molecular pegboard that allows us to attach the desired chemical group precisely where we need it. Essentially, we have learned to ‘paint’ two-dimensional materials with point-like quantum labels, controlling their properties at the nanoscale. This opens up prospects for creating devices of a new architecture,” shared Irina Martynenko, an assistant professor at the Skoltech Engineering Physics Center, co-author of the study, and the head of the Laboratory of DNA Nanoengineering and Photonics at the Skoltech Engineering Physics Center.

This work is unique in demonstrating for the first time the use of DNA origami to precisely create quantum emitters in two-dimensional materials, enabling unprecedented control over the positioning of single-photon sources. The technology demonstrates that the world of biotechnology (DNA) and the world of inorganic physics (two-dimensional materials) can be combined to achieve precision at the level of individual molecules. In the near future, this will enable not only the creation of single-photon emitters but also complex circuits for quantum information processing, as well as ultrasensitive sensors.