{
  "abstract": "Quantum communication relies on optically active color centers for scalable spin-photon networking, yet the sustainability implications of defect engineering remain largely unexplored. We comparatively evaluate twenty host crystal-defect generation combinations across diamond, SiC, h-BN, GaN, ZnO using ion implantation, e-beam irradiation, laser writing, and heteroepitaxial growth techniques. A multi-attribute cradle-to-gate framework integrating life cycle, chemical hazard, human health toxicity, and technoeconomic assessments reveals distinct thermodynamic, chemical, health, and economic tradeoffs emerge across defect engineering pathways. h-BN paired with laser writing shows the lowest overall burdens, with low energy demand, global warming potential <20 kg CO₂ eq./chip, minimal hazard/toxicity profiles, and lowest fabrication cost. SiC provides a balanced near-term pathway by retaining strong quantum functionality while moderating sustainability burdens. ZnO and GaN show selective process-level advantages for integrated photonics, whereas diamond remains burden-intensive due to energy-demanding growth and complex post-defect stabilization requirements. Identified greener interventions enable scalable and resource-conscious quantum communication hardware.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 2,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Sahar Shata",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-0969-362X"
    },
    {
      "name": "Julie M. Schoenung",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-4093-1489"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/0ph57ev2b3xfs.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1038/s41467-026-78261-x",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13724686",
  "id": "0ph57ev2b3xfs",
  "issns": [
    "2041-1723"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-78261-x",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Article"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2505|Diamond and Carbon-based Materials Research"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7218857183",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-78261-x_reference.pdf",
  "pmcid": "PMC13724686",
  "pmid": "42967913",
  "published": "2026-10-03",
  "publisher": "Springer Science and Business Media LLC",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/0ph57ev2b3xfs.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:38Z",
      "native_id": "10.1038/s41467-026-78261-x",
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      "url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-78261-x"
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    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-03T15:20:53Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42967913",
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      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42967913"
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    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-04T12:23:13Z",
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      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-78261-x"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "chemistry",
      "origin": "openalex:2505|Diamond and Carbon-based Materials Research",
      "subfield": "materials-polymers"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Sustainability cost of defect engineering in color centers for quantum communications",
  "title_text": "Sustainability cost of defect engineering in color centers for quantum communications",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-05T12:21:25Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/0ph57ev2b3xfs",
  "venue": "Nature Communications",
  "versions": []
}