Purdue University researchers say they've created a hybrid molecule in which its quantum state can be intentionally manipulated -- a required step in the building of quantum computers.

"Up to now large-scale quantum computing has been a dream," said Professor Gerhard Klimeck, who is also associate director for technology for the national Network for Computational Nanotechnology. "This development may not bring us a quantum computer 10 years faster but our dreams about these machines are now more realistic."

The complex research is reported online in the journal Nature Physics.