The interplay between magnetism and light absorption holds promise for novel photovoltaic technologies, and recent research explores this connection within the unique structure of graphene. Yuncheng Mao and Claudio Attaccalite, both from CNRS/Aix-Marseille Université, investigate how magnetic fields influence the bulk photovoltaic effect in Bernal bilayer graphene, a material formed by stacking two graphene layers. Their work reveals that applying a magnetic field dramatically alters the way light generates electrical current within the material, activating a previously dormant current mechanism and significantly boosting the overall photovoltaic response. This discovery demonstrates a new level of control over light-matter interactions, potentially paving the way for more efficient and tunable solar cells and light detectors.
If you want to know more you can read the full article on:
https://quantumzeitgeist.com/bernal-bilayer-graphene-exhibits-magnetic-bulk-photovoltaic-effect/

and the original paper here:
https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.20498