Physicists Observe Key Evidence of Unconventional Superconductivity in Magic-Angle Graphene

Magic-angle graphene and superconducting gap at MIT

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In a landmark study that brings physicists one step closer to the dream of room-temperature superconductivity, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have uncovered the clearest evidence yet of unconventional superconductivity in magic-angle twisted tri-layer graphene (MATTG) — a groundbreaking quantum material only a few atoms thick.

The work, recently published in Science (DOI: 10.1126/science.adv8376) and reported by Phys.org (November 2025), provides direct experimental confirmation that this unique form of graphene hosts a superconducting state unlike any conventional material known today. Using a novel tunneling spectroscopy technique, the MIT team directly measured the superconducting “gap” in MATTG and found it to have a distinctive V-shaped profile — a hallmark of unconventional superconductivity driven by electron interactions rather than lattice vibrations.

Why Magic-Angle Graphene Matters

Graphene — a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice — has long fascinated scientists for its extraordinary strength, conductivity, and thinness. But when multiple graphene layers are stacked with a precise rotational offset known as the magic angle (approximately 1.1 degrees), something remarkable happens: the electrons slow down, interact strongly, and form exotic quantum states such as superconductivity, correlated insulators, and ferromagnetism.

This phenomenon, first discovered by the Pablo Jarillo-Herrero group at MIT in 2018, gave birth to the field of “twistronics” — the science of manipulating quantum behavior by twisting 2D materials at just the right angle. Over the years, researchers have experimented with bilayer and trilayer graphene structures, revealing a wealth of unexpected electronic properties that challenge established models of condensed matter physics.

Now, this latest discovery cements magic-angle twisted trilayer graphene as one of the most promising platforms for exploring high-temperature superconductivity and strongly correlated electron behavior.

The Experiment: Watching Superconductivity Emerge in Real Time

In their new study, MIT physicists led by Pablo Jarillo-Herrero and graduate student Shuwen Sun developed an ingenious experimental setup that allowed them to “watch” the superconducting state form inside MATTG. The team used a combined tunneling and electrical transport platform — a hybrid technique that sends electrons through a thin barrier between two MATTG layers while simultaneously monitoring the material’s resistance.

This setup enabled the researchers to map the material’s superconducting gap — the energy range in which electrons pair up and move collectively without resistance. The result was astonishing: instead of the uniform, rounded gap typical of conventional superconductors, MATTG’s gap was sharply V-shaped, a telltale sign that the underlying pairing mechanism is unconventional.

“The superconducting gap gives us a clue to what kind of mechanism can lead to things like room-temperature superconductors that will eventually benefit human society,” said co-lead author Sun.

Unconventional Superconductivity: Electrons Helping Each Other

In traditional superconductors, electron pairs (known as Cooper pairs) form due to vibrations in the atomic lattice — a process known as phonon-mediated pairing. These weakly bound pairs glide through the material without resistance when cooled to near absolute zero.

However, the MIT team’s results suggest a completely different mechanism in MATTG. Here, electrons appear to pair up through strong electronic correlations — meaning the electrons themselves interact directly, rather than relying on lattice vibrations. This “self-driven” pairing could explain why MATTG exhibits superconductivity with such unusual symmetry and resilience.

“In this magic-angle graphene system, the pairing likely arises from strong electronic interactions rather than lattice vibrations,” explains Jeong Min Park, co-lead author of the study. “That means the electrons are helping each other form the superconducting state.”

A Window into the Quantum Future

By revealing the internal structure of the superconducting gap in MATTG, the MIT team has given researchers a powerful new window into how unconventional superconductivity works at the nanoscale. Their technique could be applied to other two-dimensional materials — such as twisted transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) — to search for similar quantum effects and identify candidates for next-generation superconductors.

“Understanding one unconventional superconductor very well may trigger our understanding of the rest,” said Jarillo-Herrero. “That understanding may guide the design of superconductors that work at room temperature — the Holy Grail of the entire field.”

From Graphene to Quantum Devices

The implications of this work go far beyond basic science. Unconventional superconductors like MATTG could one day underpin lossless power transmission grids, ultra-fast quantum computers, and high-sensitivity magnetic sensors. Their tunability, scalability, and low-dimensional nature make them ideal for integration into quantum circuits and nanoscale devices.

This research also reinforces MIT’s leadership in the emerging domain of quantum materials engineering — a field that aims to harness quantum interactions for energy-efficient and data-intensive technologies.

Conclusion: Twisting Toward the Future of Superconductivity

The discovery of unconventional superconductivity in magic-angle twisted trilayer graphene is more than a scientific milestone — it’s a vision of the quantum future. It confirms that the careful twisting and stacking of atomically thin layers can give rise to entirely new physical phenomena, beyond what conventional materials can achieve.

As researchers continue to map the mysteries of moiré materials and explore the strange quantum dance of electrons within them, we move closer to unlocking the ultimate goal of the field: superconductors that work at room temperature, without energy loss.

At the smallest scales of matter, it seems that a tiny twist — just one degree — can change everything.

Original article source: Phys.org – “Physicists observe key evidence of unconventional superconductivity in magic-angle graphene” (November 2025).

This blog article was prepared with the help of AI technologies to enhance accessibility and public understanding of scientific research.

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