In March 2018, MIT physicist Pablo Jarillo-Herrero’s team discovered that two layers of graphene (atom-thick carbon sheets) twisted at precisely 1.1 degrees relative to each other—the “magic angle”—exhibit superconductivity (zero electrical resistance) and other exotic quantum behaviors. The finding opened a new field called “twistronics,” where rotating 2D materials creates entirely new electronic properties, potentially revolutionizing electronics, quantum computing, and energy transmission while providing a simpler system to study high-temperature superconductivity.
The Discovery
Single-layer graphene is an excellent conductor but not a superconductor. However, when two graphene layers are stacked and rotated to ~1.1° misalignment, the atomic lattices create a moiré pattern that dramatically slows electrons, forcing them to interact more strongly. At temperatures near absolute zero (1.7 Kelvin), this interaction causes electrons to pair up and flow without resistance—superconductivity—despite graphene containing no exotic elements typically associated with superconductors.
Why “Magic” Matters
The magic angle also produced an insulating state at certain electron densities, allowing researchers to tune the material from insulator to superconductor with a simple voltage change—a property impossible in conventional materials. This tunability made twisted bilayer graphene a “playground” for studying strongly correlated electron physics (where quantum mechanics dominates) without complex materials or high pressures. Physicists compared it to discovering a new periodic table of electronic behaviors by simply twisting materials.
Applications & Challenges
Potential applications include ultra-efficient power grids (superconductors transmit electricity without energy loss), quantum computers (exploiting exotic quantum states), and ultra-low-power electronics. However, challenges remain: the magic angle requires atomic-scale precision (off by 0.1° and properties disappear), and superconductivity still requires extreme cooling. Researchers expanded the concept to other 2D materials (twisted trilayer graphene in 2019, twisted transition metal dichalcogenides), creating a rapidly growing “twistronics” field. Nature called it one of the most exciting condensed matter physics discoveries of the decade.
Sources: Nature (March 2018 Jarillo-Herrero papers), MIT press releases, Physics Today twistronics coverage, Science Magazine reviews