The University of Birmingham is teaming up with Paragraf Ltd, a UK-based company specializing in graphene technology, to advance the development of graphene-based electronics for quantum computing.
Led by Dr Matt Coak from the School of Physics and Astronomy, the research team has received funding awards totaling 3.4 million pounds from Innovate UK and the UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship. The collaboration aims to overcome the challenges of manufacturing graphene at scale and explore its potential in quantum computing, particularly in the development of graphene sensors that can function with high precision at ultra-low temperatures.
Dr Natasha Conway, Research Director at Paragraf, and Simon Thomas, Co-Founder and CEO of Paragraf, are key partners in this endeavor, which seeks to harness the unique properties of graphene, a single layer of carbon atoms with exceptional strength and electrical conductivity, to drive innovation in quantum computing and other fields.
Introduction to Graphene Technology and Quantum Computing
The collaboration between the University of Birmingham and Paragraf Ltd, a UK-based company specializing in graphene technology, aims to accelerate the development of graphene-based electronics for commercialization at scale. Graphene, consisting of a single layer of carbon atoms, exhibits unique physical properties such as high strength and exceptional electrical conductivity. These characteristics make graphene an attractive material for various applications, including quantum computing. Quantum computing relies on the manipulation of qubits, which are extremely sensitive to their environment, requiring precise control and shielding. Graphene sensors have shown promise in governing the delicate magnetic shielding and control of qubit processors due to their unbeaten precision at ultra-low temperatures.
The University of Birmingham’s School of Physics and Astronomy, led by Dr. Matt Coak, will drive the developments in graphene technology with funding awards from Innovate UK and a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship award. The collaboration targets quantum computing as a key use case, with Paragraf’s expertise in mass-producing graphene-based electronics complementing the university’s research capabilities. Dr. Natasha Conway, Research Director at Paragraf, highlights the potential of graphene magnetic sensors in enabling technologies for quantum computers. The partnership aims to explore the properties of graphene devices at ultra-low temperatures, a realm where truly quantum behavior is observed.
Graphene has faced challenges in manufacturing at scale, and cryogenic testing of real, practical graphene devices has been limited. The lack of understanding of graphene’s properties at extreme low temperatures hinders its application in quantum computing. Dr. Coak emphasizes the significance of cryogenic testing, stating that it has not been carried out before, and the properties of graphene devices in this regime are largely unknown. The collaboration seeks to address these challenges by leveraging the university’s specialized low-temperature equipment and expertise in nanotechnology, quantum computing, and 2D materials.
The funding awards will enable Dr. Coak’s team to explore new 2D materials and electronic devices, with a focus on discovering quantum states in these materials and deploying new technologies built from them. The partnership between the University of Birmingham and Paragraf is crucial for advancing the understanding of graphene’s properties and its potential applications in quantum computing. By combining their expertise, the collaborators aim to drive the development of graphene-based electronics and contribute to the realization of a sustainable future for advanced materials.
Graphene Properties and Challenges
Graphene’s unique physical properties make it an attractive material for various applications, including quantum computing. Its high strength, exceptional electrical conductivity, and unbeaten precision at ultra-low temperatures are essential characteristics for governing the delicate magnetic shielding and control of qubit processors. However, graphene has faced challenges in manufacturing at scale, which has limited its widespread adoption. The production of high-quality graphene on six-inch wafers is a crucial step towards commercialization, and the collaboration between the University of Birmingham and Paragraf aims to address this challenge.
Cryogenic testing of real, practical graphene devices has been challenging due to the lack of understanding of their properties at ultra-low temperatures. The behavior of graphene in this regime is largely unknown, and systematic testing is necessary to uncover its characteristics. Dr. Coak’s team will utilize specialized low-temperature equipment to probe the fundamental quantum physics inside single sheets of atoms and construct detailed theoretical models to describe their electronic behavior. This research will provide valuable insights into the properties of graphene devices at extreme low temperatures, enabling the development of more efficient and effective graphene-based electronics.
The collaboration between the University of Birmingham and Paragraf is well-positioned to address the challenges associated with graphene manufacturing and cryogenic testing. The university’s expertise in nanotechnology, quantum computing, and 2D materials complements Paragraf’s capabilities in mass-producing graphene-based electronics. By combining their strengths, the collaborators aim to drive the development of graphene-based electronics and contribute to the realization of a sustainable future for advanced materials. The funding awards from Innovate UK and the UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship will support the research efforts, enabling the team to explore new 2D materials and electronic devices.
Quantum Computing and Graphene-Based Electronics
Quantum computing relies on the manipulation of qubits, which are extremely sensitive to their environment, requiring precise control and shielding. Graphene sensors have shown promise in governing the delicate magnetic shielding and control of qubit processors due to their unbeaten precision at ultra-low temperatures. The collaboration between the University of Birmingham and Paragraf aims to explore the potential of graphene-based electronics in quantum computing applications. By leveraging the university’s expertise in nanotechnology, quantum computing, and 2D materials, the team will investigate the properties of graphene devices at extreme low temperatures and develop new technologies built from them.
The development of graphene-based electronics for quantum computing applications has the potential to revolutionize the field. Graphene’s unique physical properties make it an attractive material for various applications, including quantum computing. The collaboration between the University of Birmingham and Paragraf is well-positioned to drive the development of graphene-based electronics and contribute to the realization of a sustainable future for advanced materials. Dr. Conway highlights the potential of graphene magnetic sensors in enabling technologies for quantum computers, emphasizing the significance of the partnership between the university and Paragraf.
The funding awards from Innovate UK and the UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship will support the research efforts, enabling the team to explore new 2D materials and electronic devices. The collaboration aims to address the challenges associated with graphene manufacturing and cryogenic testing, providing valuable insights into the properties of graphene devices at extreme low temperatures. By combining their expertise, the collaborators aim to drive the development of graphene-based electronics and contribute to the realization of a sustainable future for advanced materials.
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