Scientists Successfully Trap Light at Room Temperature Using Microscopic Patterns
Enschede, Monday 24 August 2026
University of Twente researchers have successfully trapped light energy at room temperature using overlapping material layers just three atoms thick, paving the way for ultra-sensitive optical sensors.
Harnessing the Moiré Effect at the Nanoscale
The physics behind this breakthrough relies on a phenomenon that is surprisingly familiar in the macroscopic world. When two overlapping mosquito nets are slightly rotated, a wavy, repeating pattern emerges [2]. Physicists at the University of Twente, working alongside international collaborators from Utrecht University, the Brazilian Center for Research in Physics (CBPF), and the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) in Japan, applied this exact moiré effect at the nanoscale [1]. By stacking two layers of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2)—each measuring a mere three atoms thick—and rotating the top layer by precisely two degrees, the team created a nanostructure with a pattern that repeats every nine nanometres [1]. To illustrate the scale of this achievement, approximately 10,000 of these individual repetitions can fit across the width of a single human hair, representing a collective span of 90000 nanometres [1][GPT].
Mapping Excitons at Room Temperature
Led by researcher Pantelis Bampoulis and first author Laurens Westenberg, the team succeeded in mapping how light energy behaves within this microscopic landscape [1]. By scanning the stacked semiconductor layers with an atomically sharp needle while illuminating the sample from below, the researchers measured light-induced electric currents [1]. This technique allowed them to observe that different types of excitons—bound pairs of electrons and holes that transport energy—self-organise and collect at highly specific locations within the moiré pattern [1]. These excitons remain trapped in tiny pockets approximately two nanometres in size [1]. Crucially, Bampoulis confirmed that this nanolandscape successfully guides and traps the excitons at room temperature, overcoming a major historical barrier in nanophotonics research which previously required extreme, sub-zero cooling [1][GPT].
Strengthening the European Semiconductor Ecosystem
This scientific milestone, published in the journal Nature Physics under the title “Real-Space Imaging of Moiré-Confined Excitons in Twisted Bilayer MoS2”, was funded by an NWO Vidi grant, an ERC grant, and the Dutch Gravitation programme “QuMat” [1]. Beyond its academic merit, the research received vital support from the Dutch National Growth Fund (Nationaal Groeifonds) [1]. As Europe aggressively pursues strategic autonomy and supply chain resilience in the face of global geopolitical shifts, localising fundamental semiconductor research is increasingly critical [GPT]. The ability to precisely manipulate light and electrical energy at an atomic level offers a direct technological pathway to next-generation integrated photonics and advanced semiconductor devices within the European high-tech ecosystem [1][GPT].
Industrial Integration and Next-Generation Chip Design
The practical implications of the University of Twente’s research extend deep into the semiconductor value chain, particularly in chip design and manufacturing equipment [1][GPT]. Major Dutch industry players like ASML and ASM International depend heavily on advanced materials science and atomic-scale precision to push the boundaries of lithography and chemical vapour deposition [GPT]. By utilising 2D transition metal dichalcogenides like molybdenum disulfide, chip designers can develop ultra-small light sources and highly sensitive optical sensors [1][GPT]. As PhD candidate Laurens Westenberg noted, these findings will directly aid the design of materials and components that control the absorption of light and electricity with unprecedented accuracy, paving the way for commercial integration [1].
A Catalyst for Integrated Photonics
The Dutch integrated photonics cluster, championed by organisations such as PhotonDelta, is poised to leverage these room-temperature nanophotonic advancements [1][GPT]. Traditional silicon microchips face physical limitations in speed and power consumption, driving the industry transition toward optical chips that process data using photons rather than electrons [GPT]. By demonstrating that light energy can be trapped and directed inside a two-nanometre space at room temperature, the researchers have provided a foundational mechanism for creating highly efficient, low-power optical components [1][GPT]. This breakthrough accelerates the timeline for deploying advanced optical sensors in fields ranging from telecommunications to medical diagnostics, securing the Netherlands’ position at the forefront of global semiconductor innovation [1][GPT].