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Title: Moiré quantum chemistry: Charge transfer in transition metal dichalcogenide superlattices

Abstract

Transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) bilayers have recently emerged as a robust and tunable moiré system for studying and designing correlated electron physics. In this Rapid Communication, by combining a large-scale first-principles calculation and continuum model approach, we provide an electronic structure theory that maps long-period TMD heterobilayer superlattices onto diatomic crystals with cations and anions. We find that the interplay between the moiré potential and Coulomb interaction leads to filling-dependent charge transfer between different moiré superlattice regions. Further, we show that the insulating state at half filling found in recent experiments on WSe2/WS2 is a charge-transfer insulator rather than a Mott-Hubbard insulator. Our work reveals the richness of simplicity in moiré quantum chemistry.

Authors:
ORCiD logo [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
OSTI Identifier:
1852726
Grant/Contract Number:  
SC0018945; SC0020149
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Physical Review. B
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 102; Journal Issue: 20; Journal ID: ISSN 2469-9950
Publisher:
American Physical Society (APS)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; 75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY; Materials Science; Physics

Citation Formats

Zhang, Yang, Yuan, Noah Q., and Fu, Liang. Moiré quantum chemistry: Charge transfer in transition metal dichalcogenide superlattices. United States: N. p., 2020. Web. doi:10.1103/physrevb.102.201115.
Zhang, Yang, Yuan, Noah Q., & Fu, Liang. Moiré quantum chemistry: Charge transfer in transition metal dichalcogenide superlattices. United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.102.201115
Zhang, Yang, Yuan, Noah Q., and Fu, Liang. Mon . "Moiré quantum chemistry: Charge transfer in transition metal dichalcogenide superlattices". United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.102.201115. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1852726.
@article{osti_1852726,
title = {Moiré quantum chemistry: Charge transfer in transition metal dichalcogenide superlattices},
author = {Zhang, Yang and Yuan, Noah Q. and Fu, Liang},
abstractNote = {Transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) bilayers have recently emerged as a robust and tunable moiré system for studying and designing correlated electron physics. In this Rapid Communication, by combining a large-scale first-principles calculation and continuum model approach, we provide an electronic structure theory that maps long-period TMD heterobilayer superlattices onto diatomic crystals with cations and anions. We find that the interplay between the moiré potential and Coulomb interaction leads to filling-dependent charge transfer between different moiré superlattice regions. Further, we show that the insulating state at half filling found in recent experiments on WSe2/WS2 is a charge-transfer insulator rather than a Mott-Hubbard insulator. Our work reveals the richness of simplicity in moiré quantum chemistry.},
doi = {10.1103/physrevb.102.201115},
journal = {Physical Review. B},
number = 20,
volume = 102,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Nov 30 00:00:00 EST 2020},
month = {Mon Nov 30 00:00:00 EST 2020}
}

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