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Defect-Induced Single-Photon Emission in ZnPS3
Natalia Zawadzka1, Dmitrii Litvinov2,3, Stan Kwast4
1University of Warsaw, Faculty of Physics, Pasteura 5, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland.
ACS Nano
|June 16, 2026
Summary
Researchers discovered single photon emission in zinc phosphorus sulfide (ZnPS3), a novel layered material. This finding expands the search for quantum emitters beyond transition metal dichalcogenides and hexagonal boron nitride, identifying phosphorus vacancies as the likely source.
Area of Science:
- Quantum optics and condensed matter physics.
- Exploration of novel quantum emitter platforms in layered materials.
Background:
- Current single photon sources in layered materials are primarily limited to transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) and hexagonal boron nitride (hBN).
- These materials offer distinct semiconducting and insulating properties, facilitating integration into van der Waals heterostructures and devices.
- There is a need to explore new material classes for quantum emitters with potentially enhanced properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report and characterize single photon emission in zinc phosphorus sulfide (ZnPS3), a member of the MPX3 family.
- To elucidate the underlying mechanisms responsible for single photon emission in ZnPS3.
- To investigate the potential of MPX3 materials as platforms for quantum emitters.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive characterization of vibrational and optical properties using polarization-resolved Raman scattering and low-temperature photoluminescence spectroscopy.
- Second-order correlation measurements to confirm the quantum nature of the emission.
- Ab initio density functional theory and GW many-body perturbation theory calculations to analyze bulk and defect-related electronic structure.
Main Results:
- Stable and narrow optical transitions localized at defect sites were observed in ZnPS3, confirming single photon emission.
- Raman scattering revealed key phonon modes and strong metal-ligand interactions influencing phonon dynamics and defect-bound excitonic states.
- Theoretical calculations identified phosphorus vacancies as the likely origin of these midgap states and observed optical transitions.
Conclusions:
- Phosphorus vacancies in ZnPS3 are identified as the origin of single photon emitters.
- ZnPS3 represents a new class of layered materials for hosting quantum emitters, offering stronger electronic correlations than TMDs or hBN.
- The findings suggest potential for exploring other MPX3 compounds for defect-based quantum emitters with tunable magnetic properties.
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