Harnessing Twisted Layers to Tune Superconductivity

Scientists at the RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS) and their collaborators have uncovered a novel method to control superconductivity by subtly twisting ultra-thin layers of material.

Figure 1. Tiny Twists, Big Breakthrough: Advancing Superconductors with Quantum Control.

This breakthrough could pave the way for more energy-efficient technologies and significant advancements in quantum computing. By fine-tuning the angle between these layers, researchers successfully manipulated the "superconducting gap," a crucial factor in determining the behavior of these materials. Their findings, published today (March 20) in Nature Physics, mark a major step toward practical applications of superconductivity. Figure 1 shows Tiny Twists, Big Breakthrough: Advancing Superconductors with Quantum Control.

The superconducting gap represents the energy required to break apart Cooper pairs—pairs of electrons that enable superconductivity at low temperatures. A larger gap allows superconductivity to occur at higher temperatures, making it more practical for real-world applications. Precisely tuning this gap is also crucial for optimizing Cooper pair interactions at the nanoscale, which can significantly enhance the performance of quantum devices.

Moving Beyond Traditional Methods

Until now, most attempts to control the superconducting gap have focused on manipulating the physical arrangement of particles in "real space." However, controlling it in "momentum space," which maps the energy states of the system, has remained a significant challenge. Achieving this level of precision is essential for advancing the next generation of superconductors and quantum technologies.

To address this, the research team worked with ultrathin layers of niobium diselenide—a well-known superconductor—deposited on a graphene substrate. Using advanced imaging and fabrication techniques, such as spectroscopic-imaging scanning tunneling microscopy and molecular beam epitaxy, they carefully adjusted the twist angle of these layers. This precise modification led to measurable changes in the superconducting gap within momentum space, revealing a new way to finely tune superconducting properties.

Surprising Patterns and New Possibilities

Masahiro Naritsuka, the first author of the study from CEMS, highlighted the significance of their findings: “Our research demonstrates that twisting offers a precise mechanism for controlling superconductivity by selectively suppressing the superconducting gap in specific momentum regions. One of the most surprising discoveries was the emergence of flower-like modulation patterns within the superconducting gap—patterns that do not align with the crystallographic axes of either material. This underscores the unique role of twisting in shaping superconducting properties.”

Future Applications and Next Steps

Tetsuo Hanaguri, the senior author from CEMS, emphasized the broader impact of their findings: “In the short term, our research deepens our understanding of superconducting systems and inter-layer interactions, enabling the design of superconductors with customized properties. In the long term, it lays the groundwork for energy-efficient technologies, quantum computing, and beyond. Our next steps involve exploring whether magnetic layers can be integrated into the structure to enable both spin and momentum selectivity. These advances could open new research directions and drive the development of groundbreaking materials and devices.”

Source: SciTECHDaily

Cite this article:

Priyadharshini S (2025),"A Small Twist Ignites a Quantum Breakthrough in Superconductors", AnaTechMaz, pp. 223