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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Electronic commensuration of a spin moiré superlattice in a layered magnetic semimetal

Spin moiré superlattices (SMSs) have been proposed as a magnetic analog of crystallographic moiré systems and a source of electron minibands offering vector-field moiré tunability and Berry curvature effects. However, it has proven challenging to realize an SMS in which a large exchange coupling J is transmitted between conduction electrons and localized spins. Furthermore, most systems have carrier mean free paths l mfp shorter than their spin moiré lattice constant a spin , inhibiting miniband formation. Here, we discover that the layered magnetic semimetal EuAg 4 Sb 2 overcomes these challenges by forming an interface with J ~ 100 milli–electron volts transferred between a Eu triangular lattice and anionic Ag 2 Sb bilayers hosting a two-dimensional electron band in the ballistic regime (l mfp >> a spin ). The system realizes an SMS with a spin commensurate with the Fermi momentum, leading to a marked quenching of the transport response from miniband formation. Our findings demonstrate an approach to magnetically engineering moiré superlattices and a potential route to an emergent spin-driven quantum Hall state.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2025

Robust Spin-Moiré-Superlattice-Driven Gap Opening in EuAg 4 Sb 2 under in-Plane Magnetic Field

Moiré superlattices introduce new length and energy scales, enabling discoveries, such as unconventional superconductivity, in 2D systems. This concept has recently been extended to bulk materials with multiple-q spin textures, opening exciting opportunities for spin moiré physics. A notable example is EuAg 4 S b2 , where a spin moiré superlattice (SMS), manifested as a double-q spin modulation, induces a superzone gap opening. In this work, we investigate the tunability of this gap by an in-plane magnetic field in EuAg 4 Sb 2 by using neutron scattering, magnetization, and transport measurements. We reveal a cycloidal ground state and multiple spin-reoriented phases induced by the in-plane field, highlighting the critical role of in-plane components in driving magnetic transitions. Moreover, we demonstrate that a robust gap opening persists in the double-q phase, regardless of in-plane field orientation. Model calculations attribute this robustness to the stability of the SMS under tilted fields. Here, our results establish EuAg 4 Sb 2 as a tunable platform for exploring the spin-texture-driven superzone gap opening in electronic states.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2026

General Approach to Solving Spin Moiré Superstructures

Recently, a host of exciting magnetic textures such as topologically protected skyrmion lattices has been discovered in several bulk metallic lanthanide compounds. In addition to hosting skyrmion phases, a hallmark of this class of materials is the appearance of numerous spin textures characterized by superposition of multiple magnetic modulations: spin moiré superlattices. In order to understand the multitude of complex phases often present in these materials, we require a general-purpose experimental and theoretical framework. Here, we demonstrate such an approach in EuAg4⁢Sb2 by comprehensively characterizing and modeling its three complex zero-field magnetic textures. Systematic symmetry-breaking experiments using uniaxial strain determine that the ground-state incommensurate magnetic phase (ICM1) is single 𝑞, meaning the magnetic moments modulate along one magnetic propagation vector. In contrast, ICM2 and ICM3 are both double 𝑞, meaning they are formed from the superposition of two sinusoidal spin modulations, i.e., spin moiré superlattices. Further, through application of polarized small-angle neutron scattering and spherical neutron polarimetry, we demonstrate that ICM1 is a single-𝑞 cycloid and ICM2 and ICM3 are double-𝑞 vortex lattices. Despite the quasi-two-dimensional nature of EuAg4⁢Sb2, the modulations propagate out of the ab plane, leading to a shift of the spin texture between triangular lattice planes. Further, the ICM3 to ICM2 transition includes an unusual 45° rotation of the magnetic vortex lattice. Motivated by the coexistence of such drastically different phases in this compound, we conclude by developing a phenomenological model that sheds light on the energetic origins of these varied phases. Our experimental probes and theoretical modeling definitively characterize three different and tunable phases in one material and provide insight for the design of topological spin-texture materials.

Neves, Paul [Massachusetts Institute of Technology↗
DOE OSTI2025

Bichromatic moiré superlattices for tunable quadrupolar trions and correlated states

Moiré superlattices in transition metal dichalcogenide heterostructures provide a platform to engineer many-body interactions. Here, we realize a bichromatic moiré superlattice in an asymmetric WSe2/WS2/WSe2 heterotrilayer by combining R- and H-stacked bilayers with mismatched moiré wavelengths. This structure hosts fermionic quadrupolar moiré trions—interlayer excitons bound to an opposite-layer hole—with vanishing dipole moments. These trions arise from hybridized moiré potentials enabling multiple excitonic orbitals with tunable interlayer coupling, allowing control of excitonic and electronic ground states. We show that an out-of-plane electric field could effectively reshape moiré excitons and interlayer-intralayer electron correlations, driving a transition from interlayer to intralayer Mott states with enhanced Coulomb repulsion. The asymmetric stacking further enriches excitonic selection rules, broadening opportunities for spin-photon engineering. Our results demonstrate bichromatic moiré superlattices as a reconfigurable platform for emergent quantum states, where quadrupolar moiré trion emission may enable coherent and entangled quantum light manipulation.

Chen, Mingfeng [Washington University in St. Louis↗
DOE OSTI2025

Possible Spin-Triplet Excitonic Insulator in the Ultraquantum Limit of HfTe 5

More than 50 years ago, excitonic insulators formed by the pairing of electrons and holes due to Coulomb interactions were first predicted [A. N. Kozlov and L. A. Maksimov, Sov. J. Exp. Theor. Phys. 21, 790 (1965); L. V. Keldysh and Y. V. Kopaev, Sov. Phys. Solid State 6, 2219 (1965); D. Jérome, T. M. Rice, and W. Kohn, Phys. Rev. 158, 462 (1967)]. Since then, excitonic insulators have been observed in various classes of materials, including quantum Hall bilayers, graphite, transition metal chalcogenides, and more recently in moiré superlattices. In these excitonic insulators, an electron and a hole with the same spin bind together, and the resulting exciton is a spin singlet. Here, we report the experimental observation of a spin-triplet excitonic insulator in the ultra-quantum limit of a three-dimensional topological material HfTe 5 . We observe that the spin-polarized zeroth Landau bands dispersing along the field direction cross each other beyond a characteristic magnetic field in HfTe 5 , forming the one-dimensional Weyl mode. Transport measurements reveal the emergence of a gap of about 2⁢5⁢0 μ⁢eV when the field surpasses a critical threshold. By performing the material-specific modeling, we identify this gap as a consequence of a spin-triplet exciton formation, where electrons and holes with opposite spin form bound states, and the translational symmetry is preserved. The system reaches charge neutrality following the gap opening, as evidenced by the zero Hall conductivity over a wide magnetic field range (10–72 T). In conclusion, our finding of the spin-triplet excitonic insulator paves the way for studying novel spin transport including spin superfluidity, spin Josephson currents, and Coulomb drag of spin currents in analogy to the transport properties associated with the layer pseudospin in quantum Hall bilayers.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2026

Dynamic control of quantum phases in two-dimensional materials via Floquet engineering

The dynamical engineering of quantum states through periodic optical driving, known as Floquet engineering, has emerged as a powerful frontier in condensed matter physics, offering a pathway to realize material properties inaccessible in static equilibrium. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent theoretical and experimental advances in the optical manipulation of two-dimensional (2D) quantum materials. We begin by systematically reviewing the evolution of the field from its pioneering applications in graphene and twisted moiré superlattices, highlighting the experimental realization of the light-induced anomalous Hall effect (AHE) to the complex spin-valley physics in transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs). Furthermore, we briefly examine recent advances in 2D magnetic materials, demonstrating how optical driving can actively compete with intrinsic magnetism to dynamically switch magnetic orders and topological invariants. Moreover, we discuss the emerging frontiers of multi-frequency driving, quantum optimal control theory (QOCT), and ultrafast lightwave electronics. We highlight how tailored waveforms, such as bicircular light fields, and sub-cycle attosecond control can selectively break spatial symmetries to generate novel nonlinear photocurrents, mitigate dissipation, and extend the boundaries of quantum control well beyond the perturbative steady-state regime. Finally, we summarize the key experimental challenges for Floquet engineering, including effects such as heating and scattering, which limit coherent quantum control.

Wang, Wenpeng [Northeastern University, Shenyang, ↗
DOE OSTI2025

Photoinduced twist and untwist of moiré superlattices

This paper directly observes femtosecond photoinduced twist–untwist motion of WSe₂/MoSe₂ moiré superlattices using ultrafast electron diffraction, showing that optical excitation can dynamically reconfigure moiré lattice structure and interlayer coupling. It supports the proposal by establishing the team’s ability to probe ultrafast interfacial and moiré dynamics, which is relevant to using moiré TMDs as reconfigurable platforms for controlling spin, charge, and molecular interactions.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Emergence of Moiré Dirac Fermions at the Interface of Topological and 2D Magnetic Insulators

Dirac Fermions on the surface of the topological insulator are spin-momentum locked and topologically protected, making them interesting for spintronics and quantum computing applications. When in proximity to magnetism and superconductivity, these electronic states could result in quantum anomalous Hall effect and Majorana Fermions, respectively. An even more dramatic enrichment of the topological insulators’ physics is expected for moiré superlattices, where, analogously to the twisted graphene layers, electronic correlations could be strongly enhanced, a task previously notoriously difficult to achieve in topological matter. Until now, the experimental confirmation of such moiré properties has remained elusive. Here, we grow the two-dimensional van der Waals magnetic insulators FeX 2 (where X = Cl or Br) on top of the topological insulator Bi 2 Se 3 and establish a moiré superlattice formation at the interface. By means of scanning tunneling microscopy and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we investigate the electronic properties of the formed moiré superlattice and demonstrate its tunability via the film choice. We reveal replicated Dirac cones and focus on their intersections, which, in the case of FeBr 2 /Bi 2 Se 3 , occur below the Fermi level. We identify the signatures of small gaps at the intersections around the M̅ i points that we attribute to the moiré interaction. These findings point to the specific type of magnetic moiré potential that breaks the time-reversal symmetry at these points but not at the $\barΓ$ point. Our observations provide an intriguing scenario of correlated topological phases induced by moiré superlattice that may result in topological superconductivity, high Chern number phases, and exotic noncollinear magnetic textures.

2D magnets↗
DOE OSTI2025

Lithography-Defined Semiconductor Moirés with Anomalous In-Gap Quantum Hall States

Quantum materials and phenomena have attracted great interest for their potential applications in next-generation microelectronics and quantum-information technologies. In one especially interesting class of quantum materials, moiré superlattices (MSLs) formed by twisted bilayers of 2D materials, a wide range of novel phenomena are observed. However, there exist daunting challenges such as reproducibility and scalability of utilizing 2D MSLs for microelectronics and quantum technologies due to their exfoliate-tear-stack method. Here, we propose lithography-defined semiconductor MSLs, in which three fundamental parameters electron−electron interaction, spin−orbit coupling, and band topology are designable. We experimentally investigate quantum-transport properties in a moiré specimen made in an InAs quantum well. Strong anomalous in-gap states are observed within the same integer quantum Hall state. Our work opens up new horizons for studying 2D quantum-materials phenomena in semiconductors featuring superior industry-level quality and state-of-the-art technologies, and they may potentially enable new quantum-information and microelectronics technologies.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Signatures of chiral superconductivity in rhombohedral graphene

Chiral superconductors are unconventional superconducting states that break time-reversal symmetry spontaneously and typically feature Cooper pairing at non-zero angular momentum. Such states may host Majorana fermions and provide an important platform for topological physics research and fault-tolerant quantum computing. Despite intensive search and prolonged studies of several candidate systems, chiral superconductivity has remained elusive so far. Here we report the discovery of robust unconventional superconductivity in rhombohedral tetralayer and pentalayer graphene without moiré superlattice effects. We observed two superconducting states in the gate-induced flat conduction bands with T c up to 300 mK and charge density n e down to 2.4 ×10 11 cm −2 in five devices. Spontaneous time-reversal-symmetry breaking (TRSB) owing to orbital motion of the electron is found and several observations indicate the chiral nature of these superconducting states, including: (1) in the superconducting state, R xx shows magnetic hysteresis in varying out-of-plane magnetic field B ⊥ —absent from all other superconductors; (2) the superconducting states are robust against in-plane magnetic field and are developed within a spin-polarized and valley-polarized quarter-metal (QM) phase; (3) the normal states show anomalous Hall signals at zero magnetic field and magnetic hysteresis. Here, we also observed a critical B ⊥ of 1.4 T, higher than any graphene superconductivity, which indicates a strong-coupling superconductivity close to the Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer (BCS)–Bose–Einstein condensate (BEC) crossover. Our observations establish a pure carbon material for the study of topological superconductivity, with the promise to explore Majorana modes and topological quantum computing.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2026

Alkali-Metal Interlocking of 2D V 4 O 10 Sheets Defines Discretized Interlayer Shear Relationships

Low-dimensional materials manifest structural anisotropy, quantum confinement, and tightly bound excitonic states, which make them attractive building blocks that can be assembled within three-dimensional laterally stitched heterostructures, stacked van der Waals solids, and complex moiré superlattices. Ion intercalation in the galleries between layered materials provides a means of modifying interlayer separation and coupling, but it is also known to drive the shearing of the layers. In this article, we explore the distinct ligand coordination environments afforded by vanadyl oxygens of singular [V 4 O 10 ] sheets and examine how the size, polarizability, and stoichiometry of Group I cations sandwiched between such layers determine the interlocking of the sheets in stacked structures. Based on the topochemical insertion of alkali-metal ions into the layered λ-V 2 O 5 , we identify seven types of guest ion coordination sites discretized into four distinct regimes of interlayer shear in units of half octahedral widths. The coordination preferences of intercalated cations govern how they interlock 2D [V 4 O 10 ] sheets and engender specific shear conformations. We present evidence that static and dynamic disorder in guest ion arrangement modulate the magnetic structure of the intercalated compounds based on electrostatic polarization, localization of charge and spin density, and lattice distortion. The results illustrate the use of topochemical ion insertion to modulate stacking relationships and magnetic transition characteristics.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2026

Tunable symmetry breaking in a hexagonal-stacked moiré magnet

Symmetry plays a central role in defining magnetic phases, making tunable symmetry breaking across magnetic transitions highly desirable for discovering non-trivial magnetism. Magnetic moiré superlattices, formed by twisting two-dimensional magnetic crystals, have been theoretically proposed and experimentally explored as platforms for unconventional magnetic states. However, despite recent advances, the ability to tune symmetry breaking in moiré magnetism remains limited, as twisted two-dimensional magnets predominantly inherit the magnetic properties and symmetries of their constituent layers. Here, in this work, we demonstrate a clear evolution of symmetry in hexagonal-stacked twisted double-bilayer CrI 3 as the twist angle increases from 180° to 190°. Although the net magnetization remains zero across this twist-angle range, the magnetic phase breaks only the threefold rotational symmetry at 180°, but it breaks all the rotational, mirror and time-reversal symmetries at intermediate twist angles between 181° and 185°, and all broken symmetries are recovered at 190°. This pronounced symmetry breaking at intermediate twist angles is accompanied by metamagnetic behaviour, evidenced by symmetric double hysteresis loops around zero magnetic field. Together, these results reveal that hexagonal-stacked twisted double-bilayer CrI3 at intermediate twist angles hosts a distinct moiré magnetic phase, featuring periodic in-plane spin textures with broken rotational, mirror and time-reversal symmetries.

Sun, Zeliang (ORCID:0009000770748064)↗
DOE OSTI2025

Highly Tunable Valley Polarization of Potential-Trapped Moiré Excitons in WSe 2 /WS 2 Heterojunctions

Moiré superlattices created by stacking atomic layers of transition metal dichalcogenide semiconductors have emerged as a class of fascinating artificial photonic and electronic materials. An appealing attribute of these structures is the inheritance of the valley degree of freedom from the constituent monolayers. Recent studies show evidence that the valley polarization of the moiré excitons is highly tunable. In heterojunctions of WSe 2 /WS 2 , marked improvement in valley polarization is observed by increasing optical excitation power, a behavior that is quite distinct from the monolayers, and lacks a clear understanding so far. Here, in this Letter, we show that this highly tunable valley property arises from filling of the moiré superlattice, which provides an intriguing mechanism for engineering these quantum opto-valleytronic platforms. Our data further demonstrate that the long-range electron-hole exchange interaction, despite being significantly weakened in the junctions, is the dominant source of moiré exciton intervalley scattering at low population. Using magnetic field tuning, we quantitatively determine the exchange interaction strength to be 0.03 and 0.24 meV for 0° and 60° twisted samples, respectively, in our experiments, about 1 order of magnitude weaker than that in the monolayers.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗