High sensitivity pressure and temperature quantum sensing in pentacene-doped p-terphenyl single crystals
Quantum sensors' responsiveness to their physical environment enables detection of variables such as temperature (T), pressure (P), and strain. We present a molecular platform for PT sensing using para-terphenyl crystals doped with pentacene (PDP), leveraging optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) of photoexcited triplet electron spins. We observe maximal frequency variations of df/dP=1.8 MHz/bar from 0-8 bar and df/dT=247 kHz/K from 79-330 K, over 1200 times and threefold greater, respectively, than those seen with nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond and > 85-fold greater pressure sensitivity over the previous record. Density functional theory calculations indicate picometer-level PT-induced molecular orbital shifts are measurable via ODMR. PDP offers additional advantages including high sensor doping levels, narrow ODMR linewidths, high contrast, and low-cost single crystal growth. Overall, this work reports low-cost, optically-interrogated PT sensors and lays the foundation for increased versatility of quantum sensors through synthetic molecular design.
Authors
- Joseph L. Garrett (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8265-0661)
- Brian W. Blankenship (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4212-6835)
- Riccardo Montis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5239-1849)
- Liang Z. Tan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4724-6369)
- Ashok Ajoy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3242-2913)
- Emanuel Druga (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3825-7771)
- Harpreet Singh (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7505-4850)
- Angad Singh (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-8519-7094)
- Noella D’Souza (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-7524-4726)
Institutions
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (US)
- Guru Nanak Dev University (IN)
- University of Urbino (IT)
- Ashoka University (IN)
- Centre for Global Health Research (CA)
- University of California, Berkeley (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2025-11-26
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-65508-2
- Citations
- 4
- Primary Topic
- Synthesis and Properties of Aromatic Compounds
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 3.74
Funders
- National Science Foundation
- U.S. Department of Energy
- Noyce Foundation
- Canadian Institute for Advanced Research
- National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center
- Azrieli Foundation
- Office of Science
- Office of Naval Research
- Basic Energy Sciences
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research