Quantum sensing is a modern scientific technique wherein scientists use the quantum nature of materials to measure physical quantities such as pressure, temperature, magnetic fields, and strain with extremely high accuracy.
This technology plays a vital role in the advancement of fields such as medicine, space research, electronics, and advanced physics.
So far, diamonds with nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centres have been the most widely used material for quantum sensing. Although NV-centre diamonds are excellent for magnetic field measurements, their sensitivity to low pressure is limited, due to the hard and rigid nature of the diamond.
This makes it difficult to detect very small pressure changes with high precision.
To overcome this limitation, Harpreet Singh, Assistant Professor, department of physics, Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), Amritsar, along with his research collaborators at the University of California, Berkeley, have developed a new type of quantum sensor using a soft organic crystal instead of the diamond.
The team employed pentacene-doped organic crystals (p-terphenyl) for quantum sensing. Singh and his research team developed the ground-breaking quantum pressure and temperature sensor using soft organic crystals, which are nearly 1,200 times more sensitive than diamond-based sensors.
The research was published in ‘Nature Communications’ — one of the world’s leading scientific journals — in 2025, highlighting its potential in medicine, space research, and quantum technologies.
In one of his published articles, Singh says the research has paved way for the new generation of low cost, optically interrogated quantum sensors with a wide range of potential applications.
Singh said: “Because organic crystals are soft and easily deform, even very small pressure changes cause significant changes in their quantum properties. By exploiting this soft nature, the research team successfully developed a quantum pressure and temperature sensor that is nearly 1,200 times more sensitive than traditional diamond-based quantum sensors, which are commonly used.”
The publication establishes that organic crystals can outperform diamond in pressure sensing under normal laboratory conditions.
Why is the crystal sensor important?
Singh said the sensor developed by him and his team enabled extremely precise measurement of tiny pressure and temperature changes.
“The new sensor is significantly cheaper than diamond-based sensors. It has potential applications in medical devices, material testing, space research, and future quantum technologies. It opens up a new avenue for designing quantum sensors using chemical and organic materials instead of hard crystals,” he added.
Guru Nanak Dev University Vice-Chancellor Karamjeet Singh has congratulated the Assistant Professor on achieving the scientific breakthrough.
With regions such as the US, China and the EU spending big on advance specific sensing technology — which is, among others, used in defence and navigation — such a breakthrough from an Indian researcher signals a push for more research and development funding.
“It is an immensely proud moment. Singh’s contribution brings global recognition to the GNDU and places India at the forefront of next-generation quantum sensing,” the VC said, adding that, at Guru Nanak Dev University, stress was laid on enabling scientists such as Singh to conduct ground-breaking international-level research through research grants.
