Lattice dynamics localization in low-angle twisted bilayer graphene

A low twist angle between the two stacked crystal networks in bilayer graphene enables self-organized lattice reconstruction with the formation of a periodic domain. This superlattice modulates the vibrational and electronic structures, imposing new rules for electron-phonon coupling and the eventual observation of strong correlation and superconductivity. Direct optical images of the crystal superlattice in reconstructed twisted bilayer graphene are reported here, generated by the inelastic scattering of light in a nano-Raman spectroscope. The observation of the crystallographic structure with visible light is made possible due to lattice dynamics localization, the images resembling spectral variations caused by the presence of strain solitons and topological points. The results are rationalized by a nearly-free-phonon model and electronic calculations that highlight the relevance of solitons and topological points, particularly pronounced for structures with small twist angles. We anticipate our discovery to play a role in understanding Jahn-Teller effects and electronic Cooper pairing, among many other important phonon-related effects, and it may be useful for characterizing devices in the most prominent platform for the field of twistronics.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figure

Electron–Phonon Coupling in a Magic-Angle Twisted-Bilayer Graphene Device from Gate-Dependent Raman Spectroscopy and Atomistic Modeling

The importance of phonons in the strong correlation phenomena observed in twisted-bilayer graphene (TBG) at the so-called magic-angle is under debate. Here we apply gate-dependent micro-Raman spectroscopy to monitor the G band line width in TBG devices of twist angles ! = 0° (Bernal), "1.1° (magic-angle), and "7° (large-angle). The results show a broad and p-/n-asymmetric doping behavior at the magic angle, in clear contrast to the behavior observed in twist angles above and below this point. Atomistic modeling reproduces the experimental observations in close connection with the joint density of electronic states in the electron−phonon scattering process, revealing how the unique electronic structure of magic-angle TBGs influences the electron−phonon coupling and, consequently, the G band line width. Overall, the value of the G band line width in magic-angle TBG is larger when compared to that of the other samples, in qualitative agreement with our calculations

Robust nanofabrication of monolayer MoS2 islands with strong photoluminescence enhancement via local anodic oxidation

CNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE MINAS GERAISCAPES - COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL E NÍVEL SUPERIORIn this work, we demonstrate the nanofabrication of monolayer MoS2 islands using local anodic oxidation of few-layer and bulk MoS2 flakes. The nanofabricated islands present true monolayer Raman signal and photoluminescence intensity up to two orders of magnitude larger than that of a pristine monolayer. This technique is robust enough to result in monolayer islands without the need of meticulously fine-tuning the oxidation process, thus providing a fast and reliable way of creating monolayer regions with enhanced optical properties and with controllable size, shape, and position.52CNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE MINAS GERAISCAPES - COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL E NÍVEL SUPERIORCNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE MINAS GERAISCAPES - COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL E NÍVEL SUPERIO

Localization of lattice dynamics in low-angle twisted bilayer graphene

Twisted bilayer graphene is created by slightly rotating the two crystal networks in bilayer graphene with respect to each other. For small twist angles, the material undergoes a self-organized lattice reconstruction, leading to the formation of a periodically repeated domain. The resulting superlattice modulates the vibrational and electronic structures within the material, leading to changes in the behaviour of electron–phonon coupling and to the observation of strong correlations and superconductivity. However, accessing these modulations and understanding the related effects are challenging, because the modulations are too small for experimental techniques to accurately resolve the relevant energy levels and too large for theoretical models to properly describe the localized effects. Here we report hyperspectral optical images, generated by a nano-Raman spectroscope, of the crystal superlattice in reconstructed (low-angle) twisted bilayer graphene. Observations of the crystallographic structure with visible light are made possible by the nano-Raman technique, which reveals the localization of lattice dynamics, with the presence of strain solitons and topological points causing detectable spectral variations. The results are rationalized by an atomistic model that enables evaluation of the local density of the electronic and vibrational states of the superlattice. This evaluation highlights the relevance of solitons and topological points for the vibrational and electronic properties of the structures, particularly for small twist angles. Our results are an important step towards understanding phonon-related effects at atomic and nanometric scales, such as Jahn–Teller effects and electronic Cooper pairing, and may help to improve device characterization in the context of the rapidly developing field of twistronics