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PreprintCC BY-NC-NDChemRxiv

Quantum Sensing of Lithium Ions with Defect-Engineered Recognition Pockets in a TEMPO-Modified Covalent Organic Framework

  • Zhecheng Sun1,2,3,4
  • Chang Tang5,2
  • Guangfu Ni6,2
  • Zexin Jin5,2
  • Lei Sun1,2,3,4,6
6 affiliations
  1. 1Department of Chemistry, School of Science and Research Center for Industries of the Future
  2. 2Westlake University
  3. 3Institute of Natural Sciences
  4. 4Westlake Institute for Advanced Study
  5. 5Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Research Center for Industries of the Future
  6. 6School of Science and Research Center for Industries of the Future
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Abstract

Nuclear-spin quantum sensing requires coherent molecular electron spin qubits embedded in analyte-recognizing local environments that bring target nuclei into their short-range hyperfine detection volume. Here, we introduce TA-TEMPO, a covalent organic framework in which dilute nitroxide radicals and Li + -binding triazine moieties form defect-engineered recognition pockets for room-temperature 7 Li sensing. Optimizing radical density preserves spin coherence while maximizing the 7 Li/ 1 H response acquired by hyperfine spectroscopy. TA-TEMPO detects Li + in a tetrahydrofuran solution of LiBr with a sensitivity of 1.0 × 10 −4 mol·L −1 at room temperature, a 50-fold improvement over the previous benchmark, and enables quantum sensing across several lithium-based electrolytes. Control experiments and density functional theory calculations show that triazine sites preferentially bind Li + over Na + and position it near nitroxide radicals, accounting for selective detection in a large excess of Na + . These results establish chemically programmed host-guest recognition as a strategy to integrate sensitivity, selectivity, and coherent spin readout in porous molecular quantum sensors.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@misc{sun2026quantum,
  title = {{Quantum Sensing of Lithium Ions with Defect-Engineered Recognition Pockets in a TEMPO-Modified Covalent Organic Framework}},
  author = {Zhecheng Sun and Chang Tang and Guangfu Ni and Zexin Jin and Lei Sun},
  howpublished = {ChemRxiv},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.26434/chemrxiv.15007348/v2},
  url = {https://chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.26434/chemrxiv.15007348/v2},
  note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY  - UNPB
TI  - Quantum Sensing of Lithium Ions with Defect-Engineered Recognition Pockets in a TEMPO-Modified Covalent Organic Framework
AU  - Zhecheng Sun
AU  - Chang Tang
AU  - Guangfu Ni
AU  - Zexin Jin
AU  - Lei Sun
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/04
PB  - ChemRxiv
DO  - 10.26434/chemrxiv.15007348/v2
UR  - https://chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.26434/chemrxiv.15007348/v2
AB  - Nuclear-spin quantum sensing requires coherent molecular electron spin qubits embedded in analyte-recognizing local environments that bring target nuclei into their short-range hyperfine detection volume. Here, we introduce TA-TEMPO, a covalent organic framework in which dilute nitroxide radicals and Li + -binding triazine moieties form defect-engineered recognition pockets for room-temperature 7 Li sensing. Optimizing radical density preserves spin coherence while maximizing the 7 Li/ 1 H response acquired by hyperfine spectroscopy. TA-TEMPO detects Li + in a tetrahydrofuran solution of LiBr with a sensitivity of 1.0 × 10 −4 mol·L −1 at room temperature, a 50-fold improvement over the previous benchmark, and enables quantum sensing across several lithium-based electrolytes. Control experiments and density functional theory calculations show that triazine sites preferentially bind Li + over Na + and position it near nitroxide radicals, accounting for selective detection in a large excess of Na + . These results establish chemically programmed host-guest recognition as a strategy to integrate sensitivity, selectivity, and coherent spin readout in porous molecular quantum sensors.
ER  -