Novel double moiré system realized in a four-layer twist- controlled graphene structure. These double moiré twist-controlled structure goes beyond the single moiré structures generally investigated in twisted bilayer graphene or transition metal dichalecogenides. The results show that demonstrate that electronic confinement in multilayer graphene stacks can be compactly realized by changing the twist angles, in contrast to traditional band engineering that employ dissimilar materials. Furthermore, near the magic angle the flat bands host correlated insulators, which suggests that the proximity of one flat band does not suppress the correlated insulating states in the other flat band.

The Harvard MRSEC engages K-12 teachers and students through the science of everyday materials. Led by former HS teacher Strangfeld, the MRSEC hosts workshops for teachers and K-12 students that are modeled on the undergraduate Science and Cooking course developed by Weitz and Brenner, which is now led by Sörensen. In February 2025, Strangfeld and Sörensen, with the help of MRSEC researchers, piloted a 4-day program at Harvard for high school students during school break.

The Harvard MRSEC provides a vibrant culture of entrepreneurship and several recent Ph.D. students supported by Center IRGs and seed projects have co-founded new companies. 

Two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors are promising materials for next-generation electronic and iontronic devices. As a consequence of their ultrathin dimensions, 2D materials offer the opportunity for continued device scaling while avoiding the short-channel effects that hinder bulk semiconductors.

Doyle has discovered a new way to thermally-induce gelation of nanoemulsions. They developed a platform wherein colloidal gelation is controlled by tuning repulsive interactions.

The Princeton MRSEC iSuperSeed focuses on the topics of polymeric materials driving structure and biological function at (i) the intracellular length scale, where recent observations of phase-separated liquid phases (left top image)  are relevant to understanding responses inside cells, and (ii) extra-cellular length scales where porous material change shape or regulate run-and-tumble dynamics of swimming bacteria (bottom image) or evolving shapes of biofilms (right top image). 

The research focus involves understanding how to integrate van der Waals materials like Bi2Se3 with industrially-relevant semiconductor materials like GaAs(001) using molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) for THz applications, as well as determining the chemical composition and bonding type of the Bi2Se3/GaAs(001) interface using density functional theory (DFT) calculations.

Lasing from an electromagnetic hot spot supported by coupled metal nanoparticles (NPs) has been demonstrated for the first time. This new nanolaser architecture is based on three dimensional (3D) Au bowtie NPs supported by an organic gain material. The extreme field compression, and thus ultra-small mode volume, within the bowtie gap produced laser oscillations at the localized surface plasmon resonance gap mode of the 3D bowties. Transient absorption measurements confirmed ultrafast resonant energy transfer between the

Hydrogels are used as scaffolds for tissue engineering, vehicles for drug delivery, actuators for optics and fluidics, and model extracellular matrices for biological studies. The scope of hydrogel applications, however, is often severely limited by their mechanical behaviors. Most hydrogels are brittle, sensitive to notches, and do not exhibit high stretchability. We report the synthesis of hydrogels from polymers forming ionically and covalently crosslinked networks. Although such gels contain 90% water, they can be stretched beyond 20 times

Here we explain the molecular engine of droplet motion that gives rise to their persistent random walk. This result allows us to tune their swimming speed and turning frequency over a range that is much broader than that of solid active particles.