Twisted Bilayer Graphene Superlattices

Abstract: Twisted bilayer graphene (tBLG) provides us with a large rotational freedom to explore new physics and novel device applications, but many of its basic properties remain unresolved. Here we report the synthesis and systematic Raman study of tBLG. Chemical vapor deposition was used to synthesize hexagon- shaped tBLG with a rotation angle that can be conveniently determined by relative edge misalignment. Superlattice structures are revealed by the observation of two distinctive Raman features: folded optical phonons and enhanced intensity of the 2D-band. Both signatures are strongly correlated with G-line resonance, rotation angle and laser excitation energy. The frequency of folded phonons decreases with the increase of the rotation angle due to increasing size of the reduced Brillouin zone (rBZ) and the zone folding of transverse optic (TO) phonons to the rBZ of superlattices. The anomalous enhancement of 2D-band intensity is ascribed to the constructive quantum interference between two Raman paths enabled by a near-degenerate Dirac cone. The fabrication and Raman identification of superlattices pave the way for further basic study and new applications of tBLG.