As a widely used two-dimensional material, hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) plays a crucial role in research fields such as condensed matter physics and quantum devices. In recent years, quantum precision measurement techniques based on hBN color centers have garnered extensive attention — such solid-state quantum sensors combine micrometer-scale spatial resolution, high detection sensitivity, and excellent in situ probing capabilities, making them particularly suitable for micro-area physical property characterization of quantum devices.
First, this paper examines the energy level structures and spin Hamiltonians of typical color centers in hBN (negatively charged boron vacancy centers and carbon-related color centers) at the microscopic level, and analyzes fabrication pathways for achieving high-purity color-center arrays through ion implantation, electron irradiation, and annealing processes. Furthermore, the paper focuses on the quantum sensing principle based on optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) technology, which exploits the sensitive response of color-center spin states to external perturbations (magnetic fields, electric fields, temperature, and strain) to achieve high signal-to-noise ratio readout.
Subsequently, the detection capabilities of hBN color centers at the micro/nanoscale are summarized: in the field of magnetic imaging, the ultrathin two-dimensional nature of hBN enables high-resolution reconstruction of near-field magnetic domain structures in two-dimensional magnetic materials; in temperature and strain sensing, the sensor's ability to accurately capture local temperature gradients and strain distributions at micrometer-scale spatial resolution is demonstrated; notably, in high-pressure in situ detection experiments, the potential to maintain excellent coherence and stability under extreme conditions is showcased.
To address current technical bottlenecks, this paper discusses various methods for improving sensing performance: utilizing nanophotonic structures such as photonic crystals to enhance light collection efficiency and emission rates; extending spin coherence time by optimizing spin control sequences such as dynamical decoupling; and eliminating nuclear spin background noise through isotope purification techniques. It is expected that this work will provide a useful reference for the development and application of color-center-based quantum precision measurement techniques in two-dimensional materials.