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Title: Breaking of Inversion Symmetry and Interlayer Electronic Coupling in Bilayer Graphene Heterostructure by Structural Implementation of High Electric Displacement Fields

Journal Article · · Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters

Controlling the interlayer coupling in two-dimensional (2D) materials generates novel electronic and topological phases. Its effective implementation is commonly done with a transverse electric field. However, phases generated by high displacement fields are elusive in this standard approach. Here, we introduce an exceptionally large displacement field by structural modification of a model system: AB-stacked bilayer graphene (BLG) on a SiC(0001) surface. We show that upon intercalation of gadolinium, electronic states in the top graphene layers exhibit a significant difference in the on-site potential energy, which effectively breaks the interlayer coupling between them. As a result, for energies close to the corresponding Dirac points, the BLG system behaves like two electronically isolated single graphene layers. This is proven by local scanning tunneling microscopy (STM)/spectroscopy, corroborated by density functional theory, tight binding, and multiprobe STM transport. Further, the work presents metal intercalation as a promising approach for the synthesis of 2D graphene heterostructures with electronic phases generated by giant displacement fields.

Research Organization:
Ames Laboratory (AMES), Ames, IA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Materials Sciences & Engineering Division
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-07CH11358
OSTI ID:
1905244
Report Number(s):
IS-J-10,955
Journal Information:
Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, Vol. 13, Issue 49; ISSN 1948-7185
Publisher:
American Chemical SocietyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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