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Ultra-strong spin–orbit coupling and topological moiré engineering in twisted ZrS2 bilayers

Author

Listed:
  • Martin Claassen

    (University of Pennsylvania)

  • Lede Xian

    (Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory
    Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Center for Free Electron Laser Science)

  • Dante M. Kennes

    (Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Center for Free Electron Laser Science
    Institut für Theorie der Statistischen Physik, RWTH Aachen University and JARA-Fundamentals of Future Information Technology)

  • Angel Rubio

    (Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Center for Free Electron Laser Science
    Center for Computational Quantum Physics, Simons Foundation Flatiron Institute)

Abstract

We predict that twisted bilayers of 1T-ZrS2 realize a novel and tunable platform to engineer two-dimensional topological quantum phases dominated by strong spin-orbit interactions. At small twist angles, ZrS2 heterostructures give rise to an emergent and twist-controlled moiré Kagome lattice, combining geometric frustration and strong spin-orbit coupling to give rise to a moiré quantum spin Hall insulator with highly controllable and nearly-dispersionless bands. We devise a generic pseudo-spin theory for group-IV transition metal dichalcogenides that relies on the two-component character of the valence band maximum of the 1T structure at Γ, and study the emergence of a robust quantum anomalous Hall phase as well as possible fractional Chern insulating states from strong Coulomb repulsion at fractional fillings of the topological moiré Kagome bands. Our results establish group-IV transition metal dichalcogenide bilayers as a novel moiré platform to realize strongly-correlated topological phases in a twist-tunable setting.

Suggested Citation

  • Martin Claassen & Lede Xian & Dante M. Kennes & Angel Rubio, 2022. "Ultra-strong spin–orbit coupling and topological moiré engineering in twisted ZrS2 bilayers," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-31604-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31604-w
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