Researchers from Linköping University in Sweden have developed a new material for quantum random number generation based on a perovskite light emitting diode (PeLED) that could be used in cybersecurity within five years. In our interconnected world where cybersecurity is increasingly vital to protect the individual as well as the national and financial infrastructure, this new kind of random number generator for encryption could lead to cheaper, safer and more environmentally friendly digital information exchange.
It is hoped the development of PeLEDs will bring a step change in optical communication and lighting devices based on their optical properties. They also have a more straightforward manufacturing process compared to traditional semiconductor devices as they do not need large clean room facilities, and manufacturing is carried out in ambient temperature. The low energy use involved means their manufacturing is more sustainable.
For data encryption, a random number generator provides keys that are used to encrypt as well as unlock the information at the receiving end. Different kinds of random number generators offer different levels of randomness, and therefore security. Hardware is safer since the randomness is controlled by physical processes, with the approach that provides the best randomness being based on quantum phenomena, known as a quantum random number generator (QRNG).
This study, published in the journal Communications Physics [Argillander et al. Commun. Phys. (2023) DOI: 10.1038/s42005-023-01280-3], demonstrated that PeLEDs can be used in quantum technology by implementing a highly secure QRNG, its first use with a PeLED as the light source.
With QRNGs, it is possible to certify that a large amount of the generated bits are private and secure. The new feature of this QRNG is the use of light emitting diodes made from perovskite, a crystal-like material used increasingly in solar cells. The QRNG also compares well with similar products, and using perovskites means it can be cheaper and more environmentally friendly. As research group leader Guilherme Xavier told Materials Today, “The development of low-cost and secure quantum random number generators can have important consequences in improving information security for industry.”
The research also highlights the versatility of perovskite light sources, which could help advance new perovskite devices, such as perovskite laser diodes, for quantum technology applications. The team now hope to develop the material further to make the perovskite lead-free and to improve the length of its life, currently at 22 days. They are also investigating if these devices can be developed as single-photon detectors.
“The development of low-cost and secure quantum random number generators can have important consequences in improving information security for industry.”Guilherme Xavier
PeLED used in the lab when illuminated by a red laser beam