Unconventional non-local relaxation dynamics in a twisted trilayer graphene moire superlattice.

ABSTRACT: The electronic and structural properties of atomically thin materials can be controllably tuned by assembling them with an interlayer twist. During this process, constituent layers spontaneously rearrange themselves in search of a lowest energy configuration. Such relaxation phenomena can lead to unexpected and novel material properties. Here, we study twisted double trilayer graphene (TDTG) using nano-optical and tunneling spectroscopy tools. We reveal a surprising optical and electronic contrast, as well as a stacking energy imbalance emerging between the moiré domains. We attribute this contrast to an unconventional form of lattice relaxation in which an entire graphene layer spontaneously shifts position during assembly, resulting in domains of ABABAB and BCBACA stacking. We analyze th

SUBMITTER: Halbertal D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9731949 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature