Manchester team reports room-temperature superconductivity in twisted bilayer graphene
University of Manchester researchers led by Professor Catalina Espinosa reported room-temperature superconductivity (zero resistance up to 291 K) in twisted bilayer graphene films at a 1.05-degree twist angle under uniaxial strain, published in Nature this week. If replicated, the finding would establish a viable pathway for graphene-based superconducting applications, a property previously unachievable in this material above ~5 K.
Researchers at the University of Manchester, under the leadership of Professor Catalina Espinosa, have observed room-temperature superconductivity in twisted bilayer graphene films. Published in Nature, the study reveals that these films demonstrate zero electrical resistance up to 291 K when stacked with a 1.05-degree twist angle and subjected to modest uniaxial strain. This finding, pending independent replication, could significantly advance the field, as previous reports of superconductivity in twisted bilayer graphene required temperatures below 5 K.
The team employed a novel low-temperature transfer technique to ensure precise alignment of the graphene layers without thermal distortion. The films were characterized using four-probe resistance measurements and SQUID magnetometry. Independent reproduction efforts are underway at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the National Graphene Institute, and IBM Research. The project received funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the European Research Council.
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