The announcement, made on October 2, 2026, positions Grosso’s laboratory to take on a challenge that sits at the heart of one of the most stubborn obstacles in quantum technology. Quantum devices, from experimental quantum computers to prototype quantum sensors, exploit the strange behavior of matter at extremely small scales, where particles can exist in superpositions of states and become entangled with one another across distances. These behaviors underpin the promise of radically new approaches to computing, communication, and sensing. Yet the same fragility that makes quantum states so powerful also makes them extraordinarily vulnerable. Heat, stray electromagnetic fields, and above all vibrations, the ceaseless microscopic jiggling of atoms within any material, can scramble quantum information in a process known as decoherence. The standard strategy has been isolation: suspend atoms in vacuum, cool systems to near absolute zero, and engineer barriers between the quantum system and its noisy environment.

Grosso’s team intends to flip that logic on its head. Rather than treating localized molecular vibrations embedded within solid materials as noise to be suppressed, the researchers will investigate whether those vibrations can be deliberately built into quantum systems and harnessed as a resource for controlling, transferring, and storing quantum information. In the vocabulary of condensed matter physics, these vibrations are related to phonons, quantized modes of mechanical motion that propagate through crystal lattices. In many quantum platforms, phonons are the enemy, the channel through which energy leaks out of carefully prepared quantum states. Grosso’s program asks whether, under the right conditions and with the right materials, that same channel can be tamed, shaped, and directed, so that mechanical motion becomes an asset rather than a liability.

The experimental focus will fall on a remarkable class of materials known as wide-bandgap nitrides, semiconductors that are already familiar to industry thanks to their role in light-emitting diodes and power electronics. Within these crystals, certain defects, atomic-scale imperfections in the otherwise regular lattice, can behave as highly complex miniature quantum systems. In a single nanostructure, the electronic states of such a defect can interact with light, with electrical charge, and with the molecular vibrations of the surrounding lattice. This intimate coupling of optical, electronic, and mechanical degrees of freedom within one nanoscale object is precisely what makes these defects interesting for Grosso’s purposes: they offer a natural laboratory in which vibrations and quantum information coexist and communicate.

To interrogate these systems, Grosso and his team will deploy advanced laser and spectroscopy techniques capable of studying individual defects one at a time. Single-defect spectroscopy is a demanding craft, requiring the ability to isolate the optical signature of one nanoscale imperfection amid billions of atoms and to track how its quantum states evolve in response to controlled perturbations. By measuring how molecular vibrations interact with the electronic and optical properties of individual defects, the researchers hope to determine whether those vibrations can be precisely controlled. Success would open the door to using vibrations as new handles for manipulating quantum information, potentially reducing errors in quantum operations and encoding more information within a single quantum system than would otherwise be possible.

The choice of wide-bandgap nitrides carries a second, potentially transformative advantage: compatibility with existing semiconductor manufacturing and the possibility of quantum functionality at or near room temperature. Most leading quantum computing platforms today rely on elaborate cryogenic cooling, with dilution refrigerators holding processor chips at temperatures colder than deep space. That infrastructure imposes enormous costs in money, energy, and complexity, and it remains one of the practical barriers separating laboratory demonstrations from widely deployable quantum technologies. If quantum defects in nitride semiconductors can perform useful quantum operations without such cooling, the result could be a dramatic simplification of the hardware required for quantum devices, bringing them closer to real-world applications in sensing, communication, and computation.

Grosso expressed both gratitude and ambition upon receiving the award. “I’m incredibly excited and honored to receive this award,” he said. “It gives our lab the freedom to pursue a new direction and ask a fundamental question about quantum materials: Can we learn to control and turn vibrations that are often viewed as obstacles into something useful? The Moore award will allow us to take risks, develop new experimental capabilities, and follow the science wherever it leads.” That emphasis on risk is not incidental. The Experimental Physics Investigators Initiative was designed specifically to provide sustained, flexible funding to mid-career physicists pursuing ambitious research, giving them the freedom to take scientific risks, develop new approaches, and pursue unexpected findings in ways that conventional grant structures rarely permit.

The program’s reach is now substantial. With nearly 100 investigators at work across the initiative, funded projects span condensed matter physics, fluid dynamics, nuclear physics, quantum information science, soft matter, and atomic, molecular, and optical physics. Theodore Hodapp, program director for the initiative, framed the philosophy behind the program: “With nearly 100 investigators now at work, we are seeing the range of bold, original science we hoped this Initiative would make possible. From the start, our aim has been to accelerate progress at the frontier of experimental physics by giving brilliant mid-career scientists the kind of flexible, sustained support that federal grants rarely can. That freedom lets them take on risky, high-reward experiments and follow ideas when research results lead them down new pathways.”

Colleagues at the CUNY ASRC see the award as a validation of the institution’s research culture. Andrea Alù, founding director of the CUNY ASRC Photonics Initiative and Distinguished Professor of Physics at the CUNY Graduate Center, praised the originality of the funded work. “Professor Grosso’s award recognizes both the originality of his research and his willingness to challenge conventional thinking,” Alù said. “This is exactly the kind of fundamental, high-risk research that can open entirely new directions in photonics and quantum science, in line with the overarching goals of our Photonics Initiative. We are excited to see where he and his team take this work.” Notably, Grosso is the second researcher from the Photonics Initiative to receive a Moore Foundation Experimental Physics Investigator award. Matthew Sfeir, then a professor with the initiative, received the honor in 2023 for research into the infrared and terahertz properties of novel organic materials and their potential use in advanced photonic and quantum technologies.

For Grosso, the award’s flexibility will enable his laboratory to build and carry out first-of-a-kind experiments combining advanced optical and quantum-control techniques to probe quantum systems with unprecedented capabilities. The broader intellectual stakes are considerable: if localized molecular vibrations in solids can indeed be controlled and repurposed, scientists would gain a new set of building blocks for quantum technologies, drawn from a form of motion that generations of researchers have worked diligently to suppress. Whether that vision materializes will depend on years of careful single-defect experiments, but the Moore Foundation’s investment reflects a bet that the boldest questions in experimental physics, the ones that challenge conventional wisdom about what counts as signal and what counts as noise, are precisely the ones worth funding.

Subject of Research: Harnessing localized molecular vibrations in wide-bandgap nitride semiconductor defects as a controllable resource for quantum information technologies

Article Title: Gabriele Grosso named 2026 Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Experimental Physics Investigator

Article References: Gabriele Grosso named 2026 Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Experimental Physics Investigator. (n.d.). Original publication

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: Not provided

Keywords: Gabriele Grosso, Moore Foundation, Experimental Physics Investigators Initiative, quantum information, phonons, molecular vibrations, wide-bandgap nitrides, semiconductor defects, single-defect spectroscopy, room-temperature quantum systems, CUNY ASRC, photonics

The researchers employed an innovative combination of scanning photocurrent measurement system (SPMS) alongside thermal admittance spectroscopy (TAS) and drive-level capacitance profiling (DLCP), capitalizing on the complementary strengths of these methodologies to achieve a multidimensional mapping of the trap state landscape. SPMS facilitated high-resolution spatial imaging of photocurrent variations, enabling pinpoint identification of defect-rich regions. TAS allowed for the examination of trap energy levels and carrier dynamics by monitoring capacitive responses under variable thermal conditions. DLCP further refined the understanding of charge carrier density and defect profiles by modulating capacitance as a function of the driving signal amplitude.

This integrative, multidimensional approach produced unprecedented spatial and energetic resolution in characterizing trap states, offering an illuminating “topographical” and energetic portrait of the defects that conventional techniques failed to resolve. The comprehensive mapping of trap state distributions yielded a newfound understanding of their correlation with performance bottlenecks, revealing localized pockets of high trap densities that dramatically increased non-radiative recombination and energy loss within the devices.

Armed with these insights, the research team pioneered a novel passivation strategy aimed at mitigating the detrimental impacts of these trap states. They introduced sulfa guanidine molecules—organic compounds known for their strong affinity to defect sites and ability to form stable chemical bonds within the perovskite lattice. By integrating these molecules during the fabrication process, the researchers achieved effective passivation of trap sites, essentially “healing” the defects and substantially suppressing trap-assisted recombination events.

The implementation of this passivation strategy translated into a remarkable enhancement of solar cell performance, culminating in a record-breaking power conversion efficiency of 25.74%. This marks a significant leap forward for perovskite solar cells, placing their efficiency on par with, and in some cases surpassing, more established photovoltaic technologies like crystalline silicon. The achievement underscores both the power of advanced defect characterization techniques and the practical benefits stemming from targeted molecular engineering.

Beyond the immediate efficiency gains, this breakthrough also sheds light on the subtle interplay between microscopic defect phenomena and macroscopic device behavior in perovskite materials. The ability to precisely localize trap states and understand their energy levels opens new avenues for engineering more robust and efficient devices with longer operational lifespans. This is vital for transitioning perovskites from promising laboratory-scale prototypes to commercially viable solar solutions.

This work also offers a model framework for the broader field of semiconductor research, where trap states and defect engineering remain persistent challenges. The methodology combining SPMS, TAS, and DLCP can be adapted to a variety of material systems, providing a generalizable toolkit for defect characterization that transcends the specific realm of perovskites. Such comprehensive multidimensional analysis could accelerate innovation in next-generation optoelectronic materials beyond solar cells, including light-emitting diodes, photodetectors, and transistors.

Furthermore, the study illuminates how molecular passivation strategies, when guided by holistic understanding of defect landscapes, can be precisely tailored for maximum efficacy. Sulfa guanidine molecules exemplify a class of functional additives that not only chemically bond to defects but also influence the electronic environment to promote desirable charge-carrier dynamics. This molecular-level tailoring signifies a new frontier in materials science, blending chemistry and physics insights to optimize device architectures at the atomic scale.

The reported solar cell efficiency of 25.74% achieved through this targeted defect passivation represents a step-change that could catalyze rapid deployment of perovskite-based photovoltaics on a global scale. With perovskites offering advantages in low-cost manufacturing, tunable bandgaps, and lightweight form factors, overcoming defect-induced losses propels their readiness for integration into commercial products ranging from rooftop panels to building-integrated photovoltaics and portable power devices.

Equally important, this research establishes a rigorous scientific foundation that demystifies the often opaque role of defects in perovskite solar cells. By moving beyond traditional bulk-level averaging measurements to detailed spatially resolved analysis, the team has unlocked a granular understanding of the “weak links” in perovskite films. This knowledge is indispensable for designing fabrication protocols that consistently yield high-purity, defect-minimized materials tailored for industrial scalability.

The convergence of advanced spectroscopy and microscopy techniques represents an exciting paradigm shift in solar cell research—one that values comprehensive multidimensional insight over isolated characterization methods. This integrative approach exemplifies how state-of-the-art instrumentation combined with clever molecular chemistry can translate fundamental discoveries into tangible photovoltaic advances. It also exemplifies a broader ethos of targeted defect engineering as a pathway to both improving performance and enhancing the durability of emerging solar technologies.

Looking ahead, the insights and methodologies developed in this study promise to inspire a wave of innovation in perovskite and other novel photovoltaic materials. The detailed trap-state maps serve as blueprints to inform subsequent generations of solar cells engineered with precision at the atomic and molecular levels. As the demand for cleaner, more efficient renewable energy sources accelerates worldwide, these breakthroughs in defect mapping and passivation stand poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future energy landscape.

Subject of Research: Perovskite solar cells and trap state characterization
Article Title: Not provided
News Publication Date: Not provided
Web References: Not provided
References: Not provided
Image Credits: EurekaAlert (https://mediasvc.eurekalert.org/Api/v1/Multimedia/b0a7ac54-2f75-4486-8958-16b325db455d/Rendition/thumbnail/Content/Public)

Keywords

Perovskite Solar Cells, Trap States, Scanning Photocurrent Measurement System, Thermal Admittance Spectroscopy, Drive-Level Capacitance Profiling, Sulfa Guanidine Passivation, Photovoltaic Efficiency, Defect Engineering, Molecular Passivation, Solar Cell Performance, Multidimensional Imaging, Renewable Energy