The new field of quantum computing uses qubits (quantum bits) in place of classical bits to carry out certain types of computation. Physical systems that act as qubits encompass a wide range of technologies, from ions, to local defect states in crystals, and on to microelectronic devices addressable with wire interconnects. Materials issues arise in all of these, and this issue of MRS Bulletin describes how materials challenges and opportunities arise and have been used to make qubit-based quantum circuits using very different materials systems. In this overview article, we first review the universal ideas of how information is introduced and processed in a quantum computer. Comparing quantum to classical computers, for a given number of bits, the information content in a quantum computer is exponentially larger. But quantum computers face a daunting challenge: How do we keep the information from degrading and eventually disappearing? Maintaining the coherence of a quantum computer comes down to specific materials issues for all the approaches studied so far. Advances in materials design and processing have enabled enormous increases in performance, and we review the work described in each of the articles in this issue.

A quantum information processor must perform accurate manipulations of many quantum degrees of freedom without introducing strong interactions with the environment that lead to the loss of quantum coherence. Spins in semiconductors have been shown to have long coherence times, so semiconducting quantum processors are feasible if the necessary manipulations can be performed without introducing excessive spin decoherence. To perform the necessary manipulations of single spins and to control the couplings between different spins, fine control of electronic energy levels and wave function overlaps is required. Electrically gated quantum dots have the promise of enabling such control, because the same gates that are used to define the quantum dot can be used to perform the necessary manipulations. This article describes recent progress toward the development of high-fidelity qubits using top-gate defined semiconductor quantum dots.

The successful development of quantum computers is dependent on identifying quantum systems to function as qubits. Paramagnetic states of point defects in semiconductors or insulators have been shown to provide an effective implementation, with the nitrogen-vacancy center in diamond being a prominent example. The spin-1 ground state of this center can be initialized, manipulated, and read out at room temperature. Identifying defects with similar properties in other materials would add flexibility in device design and possibly lead to superior performance or greater functionality. A systematic search for defect-based qubits has been initiated, starting from a list of physical criteria that such centers and their hosts should satisfy. First-principles calculations of atomic and electronic structure are essential in supporting this quest: They provide a deeper understanding of defects that are already being exploited and allow efficient exploration of new materials systems and “defects by design.”

A quantum computer will have computational power beyond that of conventional computers, which can be exploited for solving important and complex problems, such as predicting the conformations of large biological molecules. Materials play a major role in this emerging technology, as they can enable sophisticated operations, such as control over single degrees of freedom and their quantum states, as well as preservation and coherent transfer of these states between distant nodes. Here we assess the potential of semiconductor nanowires grown from the bottom-up as a materials platform for a quantum computer. We review recent experiments in which small bandgap nanowires are used to manipulate single spins in quantum dots and experiments on Majorana fermions, which are quasiparticles relevant for topological quantum computing.

Superconducting qubits are electronic circuits comprising lithographically defined Josephson tunnel junctions, inductors, capacitors, and interconnects. When cooled to dilution refrigerator temperatures, these circuits behave as quantum mechanical “artificial atoms,” exhibiting quantized states of electronic charge, magnetic flux, or junction phase depending on the design parameters of the constituent circuit elements. Their potential for lithographic scalability, compatibility with microwave control, and operability at nanosecond time scales place superconducting qubits among the leading modalities being considered for quantum information science and technology applications. Over the past decade, the quantum coherence of superconducting qubits has increased more than five orders of magnitude, due primarily to improvements in their design, fabrication, and, importantly, their constituent materials and interfaces. In this article, we review superconducting qubits, articulate the important role of materials research in their development, and provide a prospectus for the future as these devices transition from scientific curiosity to the threshold of technical reality.

Trapped ions are sensitive to electric-field noise from trap-electrode surfaces. This noise has been an obstacle to progress in trapped-ion quantum information processing (QIP) experiments for more than a decade. It causes motional heating of the ions, and thus quantum-state decoherence. This heating is anomalous because it is not easily explained by typical technical-noise sources. Experimental evidence of its dependence on ion-electrode distance, frequency, and electrode temperature points to the surface, rather than the bulk, of the trap electrodes as the origin. In this article, we review experimental efforts and models to help identify and reduce or eliminate the source of the anomalous heating. Recent progress to reduce the heating with in situ cleaning indicates that it may not be a fundamental limit to trapped-ion QIP. Moreover, the extreme sensitivity of trapped ions to electric-field noise may potentially be used as a new tool in surface science.

Fifteen years ago, the field of cell and organ printing began with a few research groups looking to take newly developed direct-write tools and apply them to living cells. Initial experiments demonstrated cell viability and functionality post-deposition. Recently, research has begun in earnest to create three-dimensional cellular constructs that mimic both the heterogeneous structure and function of natural tissue. Several companies are now marketing cell printers, expanding access to a wider group of scientists and accelerating the pace of development. This article describes the past decade and a half of research by showing examples of some of the most sophisticated work, comparing the approaches and tools used in the field, and predicting the products that will arrive in the not too distant future.