Stacking two graphene sheets at a precise twist produced surprising physics. In 2018 researchers found that a small ‘magic’ angle made the material superconduct. The discovery launched a fast-growing field of twisted two-dimensional materials.
A magic angle
Geometry is decisive. Near 1.1 degrees of twist, electrons slow and interact strongly. New states emerge.
Tunable superconductivity
Control is the prize. Electric fields switch the material between insulating and superconducting. Tunability is rare.
A model system
Physics simplifies. The platform mimics complex materials in a controllable setting. It aids theory.
A new subfield
Interest exploded. ‘Twistronics’ became a busy research area. Many materials followed.
Fabrication finesse
Precision is hard. Achieving the exact angle demands careful assembly. Technique matters.
Open mechanism
Questions remain. Why it superconducts is still debated. Understanding is incomplete.
The bottom line
Twisting bilayer graphene to a magic angle produced tunable superconductivity in 2018. It became a controllable model system for correlated physics. It launched the field of twistronics.