Researchers create large-area twisted oxide crystals with precise angle control

Researchers at North Carolina State University reported a technique for building large-scale twisted oxide superlattices with deterministic control of the twist angle. Using sodium niobate membranes, they placed visual markers around each sheet, aligned a second sheet by matching the markers, and then annealed the stack to form robust chemical bonds. X-ray diffraction revealed that the strong interlayer bonding not only holds the layers together but also induces a gradual lattice rotation and alters the material’s phase structure.

These structural modifications could affect electronic and physical properties, though further study is required. Because the membranes can be fabricated over broad areas and transferred to different supports, the method may help transition twistronics from a laboratory curiosity to a viable platform for next-generation oxide electronics. The findings were published in ACS Nano and involved collaborators from multiple national laboratories and funding agencies.