Abstract: The present disclosure is directed a quantum processing element comprising: a semiconductor and a dielectric material forming an interface with the semiconductor; a dopant atom with nuclear spin of quantum number larger than ½ embedded in the semiconductor at a distance from the interface, at least one conductive electrode disposed in a manner such that there is at least a portion of dielectric material between the at least one conductive electrode and the dopant atom. The disclosure is also directed to a method of operating the quantum processing element comprising the steps of: applying a magnetic field to the dopant atom to separate the energies of the spin states associated with the nucleus of the dopant atom; applying a voltage to the at least one conductive electrode to generate an electric field gradient at a nucleus of the dopant atom; and encoding quantum information in the nuclear spin of the nucleus via the applied voltage.