Generation of Spin Defects in Hexagonal Boron Nitride

Two-dimensional hexagonal boron nitride offers intriguing opportunities for advanced studies of light–matter interaction at the nanoscale, specifically for realizations in quantum nanophotonics. Here, we demonstrate the generation of optically addressable spin defects based on the negatively charged boron vacancy (VB–) center. We show that these centers can be created in exfoliated hexagonal boron nitride using a variety of focused ion beams...