Engineering Moiré Physics in Complex Oxide–TMD Heterostructures

Moiré superlattices have transformed our understanding of quantum phenomena in two-dimensional (2D) materials, but their realization outside conventional van der Waals systems has remained elusive. Here, we demonstrate the creation of moiré superlattices at interfaces between strongly correlated oxides and two-dimensional (2D) transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs). Combining complex oxides for correlated electron physics with 2D TMDs gives rise to a new family of moiré-tailored heterostructures that reach beyond standard van der Waals assemblies. The freestanding oxide platform yields atomically clean, lattice-matched interfaces and enhanced interfacial coupling, enabling the formation of controlled moiré patterns over a range of twist angles in a non-traditional 2D–oxide hybrids with tunable periodicity. Direct detection of moiré exciton minibands reveals the formation of moiré electronic states, allowing twist-dependent quantum levels and atypical charge transport. Using continuum model combined with density-functional theory, we further establish the correlation between moiré spacing, quantum confinement, and band flattening in these heterostructures. Together, these findings demonstrate a versatile platform for moiré engineering that extends beyond conventional van der Waals systems, enabling the creation of artificial quantum states and providing new opportunities to explore correlated phenomena and excitonic dynamics in mixed-dimensional systems.