CNPEM and UFRJ lead project in Quantum Technologies selected in a joint public call by FAPESP and FAPERJ

Strategic partnership enhances Brazilian multidisciplinary research, integrating materials science and quantum physics in the fight against diseases

 

 

Selection and coordination

A scientific consortium formed by the Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM) and the Institute of Physics of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) was selected in the FAPESP–FAPERJ public call focused on the development of quantum technologies. The project, entitled “Quantum Photonics: From 2D Materials to Biological Molecules” (Process: 2025/23257-4), will receive approximately R$ 3 million for the partner institutions in São Paulo and R$ 3 million for those in Rio de Janeiro, in addition to PhD, postdoctoral, and technical training scholarships.

The initiative is coordinated by Rodrigo Capaz, director of the Brazilian Nanotechnology National Laboratory (LNNano/CNPEM), alongside researcher Marcelo Paleólogo Elefteriadis de França Santos, who is in charge at UFRJ. Teams from the State University of Campinas (Unicamp), the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), and the D’Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR) are also participating, expanding the integration among physics, materials, photonics, neuroscience, and molecular biology.

Project scope

The project investigates the interface between quantum physics, two-dimensional materials, and biological systems, exploring advanced quantum optical phenomena to establish new foundations in sensors, photonic devices, and diagnostic methods in healthcare. The combination of single-photon sources, entangled states, and ultrasensitive spectroscopy will allow for a deeper understanding of both the fundamental properties of 2D materials and the behavior of biomolecules relevant to neurodegenerative diseases and viral infections. According to Rodrigo Capaz, “the integration of quantum materials and biological systems

represents a strategic advance for the country, enabling the development of unprecedented technological solutions in communication, computing, and detection.”

Participation of CNPEM and UFRJ

CNPEM’s work is based on its consolidated experience in the synthesis and characterization of 2D materials and in the development of first- and second-generation quantum and photonic devices, paving the way for applications such as single-photon emitters and integrated optical architectures. The project is particularly supported by the Microscopic Samples Laboratory (LAM) of the Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory (LNLS/CNPEM), the Devices Division and the In-situ Growth Laboratory (LCIS) of LNNano, the latter equipped with a new scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) system for investigating electronic and optovibrational properties at the atomic scale. Institutions in Rio de Janeiro are leading the biological aspect of the project, encompassing neurobiology, virology, advanced bioimaging, and the characterization of biomarkers associated with diseases such as glaucoma, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s, as well as viruses of medical relevance in Brazil, such as Zika, Chikungunya, and Mayaro.

There are three main areas of focus: preparation; characterization through Raman spectroscopy and analysis of biological cells and molecules when interacting with quantum states of light; and testing of the 2D materials produced at CNPEM and the eventual integration of these materials into quantum biosensors. According to the head of the project at UFRJ, Marcelo Paleólogo Elefteriadis de França Santos, “the project’s general objective is to pave the way for quantum sensors of biomolecules using new sources of single photons and photon pairs based on 2D materials.”

The synergy of the collaboration funded by the FAPERJ-FAPESP consortium provides a rare opportunity in the country to integrate techniques and know-how from different groups in responding to problems of multidisciplinary scope (biology, materials science, physics, instrumentation, and health) with an impact on basic science (quantum metrology, characterization and manipulation of biomarkers, design and characterization of new materials), applied science (fabrication of new materials) and, potentially, commercial applications (prototypes for generating quantum states of light, development of treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, drugs, and more). “It is also an opportunity to integrate research conducted in both states with the express goal of increasing the cooperative and non-linear nature of the country’s scientific output, so that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts”, explains Marcelo Santos.

Partner institutions

IDOR contributes expertise in neuroscience and structural studies, while Unicamp and UFSCar reinforce capabilities in photoluminescence, magneto-optics, TERS/TEPL, and scanning microscopy techniques. This national collaboration creates a robust ecosystem capable of jointly exploring quantum phenomena, emerging materials, and highly complex biomedical applications.