Stacking graphene into a specific six-layer structure unlocks a rare combination of superconductivity and electrically controllable orbital magnetism, researchers report in Nature Physics on October 22. Xiaomeng Liu, assistant professor of physics and colleagues achieved this by arranging the layers in a rhombohedral pattern, resembling steps in a staircase. These findings reveal how a simple carbon-based material can host a remarkably rich collection of quantum states, Liu said, and establish it as a promising platform for controlling quantum materials. Jinghao Deng, Hongyuan Li, and Jiabin Xie are co-first authors on the study.
The arrangement, involving six graphene layers each shifted slightly sideways from the one below, creates a semimetallic structure with unusual quantum properties. This configuration allows for the exploration of both superconductivity and magnetism simultaneously, a rare pairing in single materials. The discovery potentially enables new methods for controlling quantum materials, moving beyond the limitations of conventional approaches, and could lead to advances in quantum technology.
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