Physics

Quantum dot

Nanotechnology

Quantum technology

Qubit

Engineering physics

Heterojunction

Open quantum system

Quantum information

Materials science

Computer science

Silicon

Germanium

Quantum computer

Quantum mechanics

Optoelectronics

Quantum

Nature Reviews Materials

In the effort to develop disruptive quantum technologies, germanium is emerging as a versatile material to realize devices capable of encoding, processing and transmitting quantum information. These devices leverage the special properties of holes in germanium, such as their inherently strong spin–orbit coupling and their ability to host superconducting pairing correlations. In this Review, we start by introducing the physics of holes in low-dimensional germanium structures, providing key insights from a theoretical perspective. We then examine the materials-science progress underpinning germanium-based planar heterostructures and nanowires. We go on to review the most significant experimental results demonstrating key building blocks for quantum technology, such as an electrically driven universal quantum gate set with spin qubits in quantum dots and superconductor–semiconductor devices for hybrid quantum systems. We conclude by identifying the most promising avenues towards scalable quantum information processing in germanium-based systems. Germanium is a promising material to build quantum components for scalable quantum information processing. This Review examines progress in materials science and devices that has enabled key building blocks for germanium quantum technology, such as hole-spin qubits and superconductor–semiconductor hybrids.

The germanium quantum information route