Our Technology
Solid-state quantum sensing on a chip.
RobQuant’s approach is built on a proven quantum platform: nitrogen-vacancy centres in diamond, combined with integrated photonics. We are developing a chip-scale magnetometer designed to work at room temperature (no cryogenics, no heating), with the sensitivity and stability needed for research and medical applications.
Nitrogen-Vacancy in Diamond
We use the quantum properties of Nitrogen-Vacancy (NV) centres in diamond, integrated with silicon photonics. NV centres are atomic-scale defects in diamond that are extremely sensitive to magnetic fields and can be read out with light at room temperature.
Diamond is an ideal host: it’s robust, optically transparent at the wavelengths we use, and compatible with planar fabrication. By embedding NV centres in a photonic structure, our photonic structure is designed to collect more signal from each defect and improve sensitivity without increasing power or complexity.
Photonic Enhancement Architecture
Our patent-pending photonic enhancement architecture enables high sensitivity with low-power, eye-safe optical excitation. That is designed to enable a solid-state sensor chip using standard semiconductor fabrication (the same processes used for consumer electronics), with a path to volume scale, robustness, and affordability.
Our target architecture integrates the diamond with waveguides and optical interfaces on a single platform. That will mean smaller, more reliable systems, from benchtop instruments to future embedded sensors, without the bulk and cost of traditional quantum magnetometers.
Our roots
Over a decade of innovation in nitrogen-vacancy centres: from academic research to chip-scale quantum sensing.
- 12014Foundational NV transducer and control work
Microwave transducers and control approaches for nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centres: enabling higher-precision spin control.
- 22015–2020High-throughput measurement + rapid prototyping
Rapid interrogation and custom control to characterise large NV arrays, alongside in-house lithography and SiN photonic prototyping to iterate on devices and data.
- 32021Foundry-scale translation
To overcome low academic cleanroom yields, validated SiN photonics in IMEC’s 150 nm process and imec sponsored to build a hybrid NV-diamond–SiN platform.
- 42023RobQuant formed (May 2023)
RobQuant started to commercialise the NV IP and build a path to manufacturable quantum sensing.
- 52024Scaling pathways: foundry microelectronics + IP
Advanced foundry microelectronics approaches for scalable spin control and system integration, alongside ongoing patent filings and partner-led evaluation.
- 62025Quantum Sensor Demonstrator
Innovate UK funding to develop a next‑generation wearable quantum sensor demonstrator in the lab, integrating key optical components into a solid‑state chip.
Why Solid-State?
Unlike older quantum magnetometers (e.g. SQUIDs that need liquid helium, or vapour cells that need heating), the sensors we are building are designed to run at room temperature with no cryogenics or heating. A solid-state approach supports robust, compact devices suitable for demanding environments, from research labs to future medical and other brain-sensing applications.