Photoexcitation flips 2D moiré devices from metals to insulators in ultrafast test

Researchers demonstrated ultrafast photoexcitation-induced phase transitions in 2D moiré materials, flipping them from metallic to insulating states in picoseconds. This breakthrough leverages light pulses to dynamically control electronic properties. The study marks the first real-time observation of such transitions in twisted bilayer graphene and similar structures. These materials exhibit tunable quantum phases, making them ideal for next-gen electronics and optoelectronics. Experiments used ultrafast laser pulses to trigger the shift, revealing how electron interactions reorder under light. This technique could enable optical switching in quantum devices, surpassing traditional electrical methods. The findings suggest potential for energy-efficient, light-controlled transistors and memory devices. Moiré materials’ sensitivity to light opens avenues for terahertz-speed computing applications. Published in June 2026, the work bridges quantum physics and materials science, offering a new toolkit for manipulating correlated electron systems with precision.