Deterministic quantum light emitters in DNA origami–engineered molecule–MoS₂ hybrids
The functionalization of atomically-thin transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) with organic molecules is a promising approach for realizing nanoscale optoelectronic devices with tailored functionalities, such as quantum light generation or p-n junctions. However, achieving precise control over the molecules' positioning on the 2D material remains a significant challenge. Here, we overcome the limitations of solution- and vapor-deposition methods and use a DNA origami placement technique to spatially arrange thiol molecules on a chip surface at the single-molecule level with high assembly yields. We successfully integrated MoS<sub>2</sub> monolayers with micron-scale thiol-origami patterns, creating quantum-emitting sites from thiol-induced localized excitons in MoS<sub>2</sub>. Our work lays a foundation for the chemical control of quantum emitters in atomically-thin semiconductors and enables the design and production of ultracompact 2D devices for quantum technologies.
Authors
- Alexander Högele (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0178-9117)
- Iuliia Melchakova (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4694-2995)
- Christoph Sikeler
- Irina V. Martynenko (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5239-3043)
- Anvar S. Baimuratov (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8708-2405)
- Tim Liedl (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0040-0173)
- Kenji Watanabe
- Zhijie Li
- Shen Zhao
- Takashi Taniguchi
- Elisabeth Erber
Institutions
- Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (RU)
- ITMO University (RU)
- National Institute for Materials Science (JP)
- Center for NanoScience (DE)
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures (CN)
- Munich Center for Quantum Science and Technology (DE)
- Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (DE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Light Science & Applications
- Published
- 2026-03-09
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-026-02204-w
- Primary Topic
- Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Australian Government
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
- Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
- Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung
- Munich Center for Quantum Science and Technology
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
- Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology