Two-Dimensional Moiré Phonon Polaritons.

Shi, Hao; Li, Chu; Pan, Ding; Dai, Xi · Nano Lett · 2025

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Phonon polaritons (PhPs) are hybrid light-matter modes. We investigate them in two-dimensional (2D) materials with twisted moiré structures, revealing that the moiré potential creates a new class of "moiré PhPs". These exhibit a fundamental spectral reconstruction into multiple branches and, crucially, electromagnetic wave functions that are nanopatterned by the superlattice. Through numerical simulations based on realistic lattice models, we confirm the existence of these intriguing modes. The inherent nanoscale structuring produces a robust, spatially varying near-field response, establishing moiré superlattices as a platform for engineering light-matter interactions.