Project description
2D materials to generate entangled photons for quantum computing
Quantum computing and secure communication rely heavily on entangled photons because they can travel long distances without losing data. However, current photon sources are inefficient, difficult to scale up, and lack on-demand control. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the SLED project will develop a reliable platform that directly converts electron pairs into entangled light. By combining 2D materials, such as twisted graphene and tungsten diselenide, this device will inject electron pairs to trigger on-demand photon emission at ultracold temperatures. Remarkably, users will be able to instantly switch the device between a quantum source and a standard light emitter using simple electrical gating. SLED outcomes pave the way for a flexible, dual-purpose architecture for next-generation quantum networks.
Objective
The generation of entangled photons underpins quantum communication, quantum computing, and secure information transfer, as such photons exhibit reduced susceptibility to loss and environmental decoherence, enabling reliable transmission over long distances. However, existing sources—primarily based on nonlinear crystals or quantum dots—face significant limitations, including low efficiency, limited scalability, and lack of on-demand tunability. A promising alternative involves converting electron Cooper pairs directly into photon pairs, offering potentially higher entanglement generation rates. Recent advances have demonstrated this concept using molecular beam epitaxy-grown hybrid structures, yet these approaches remain labor-intensive and cost-prohibitive. The Superconducting Light-Emitting Diode (SLED) project addresses these limitations by developing a platform for deterministic entangled photon generation. SLED combines magic-angle twisted bilayer graphene (MATBG), with a two-dimensional WSe2 semiconductor. Cooper pairs from MATBG are injected into the WSe2 channel, where the electron and hole cooper pair will recombine to emit photon pair ,with high fidelity, on-demand tunability, and energy-efficient operation at cryogenic temperatures. The ability to switch between SLED operation and conventional LED operation entirely through electrostatic gating, without requiring any structural or cryogenic modifications. This tunability enables real-time control over the quantum state of emitted photons, providing a versatile platform for both classical optoelectronics and quantum photonics within a single device.The project aims to deliver a deterministic platform for entangled photon generation, establishing a foundational pathway toward next-generation integrated quantum photonic architectures and enabling transformative advances in quantum communication and computation.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
02150 Espoo
Finland
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.