The key to quantum computing lies in moth balls

In a study that combines chemistry with quantum physics, researchers have demonstrated that it is possible for nanomaterials to operate at room temperature, marking a milestone in the quest for practical quantum computing.

Dr Mohammad Choucair, who recently finished a University of Sydney research fellowship, has been working with collaborators in Switzerland and Germany for the past two years. Together, the colleagues have created a conducting carbon material out of the ashes of naphthalene, the active ingredient in moth balls.

Writing in the journal Nature Communications, the researchers detailed how their material could be used to perform quantum computing at room temperature, rather than near absolute zero (-273°C). Not only has their material solved the question of temperature, it also addresses other issues such as the need for conductivity and the ability to integrate into silicon.

“This work demonstrates the simple ad hoc preparation of carbon-based quantum bits,” said Dr Choucair.

“Chemistry gives us the power to create nanomaterials on demand that could form the basis of technologies like quantum computers and spintronics, combining to make more efficient and powerful machines.”

While the next step is to build a prototyping chip, Dr Choucair is more interested in the possibilities that could come from longer-term research. He said his team has made quantum computing more accessible, suggesting that practical quantum computing might be possible within a few years.

“Quantum computing will allow us to advance our technology and our understanding of the natural world,” he said.

“Whether it’s designing drugs to cure cancer, cleaning our air or addressing our energy concerns, we need to build more complex computers to solve these complex problems.”

Image caption: Preparing conducting carbon nanospheres that operate as qubits at room temperature (right), simply by burning the active ingredient in moth balls, naphthalene (left). Image credit: Dr Mohammad Choucair.