Valley-protected one-dimensional states in small-angle twisted bilayer graphene
J. D. Verbakel, Qirong Yao, Kai Sotthewes, Harold J. W. Zandvliet
Abstract
In twisted bilayer graphene at small twist angles, the application of an electric field can break the inversion symmetry between AB- and BA-stacked domains. This causes a network of one-dimensional topologically protected states to emerge in the material, which can transport current without dissipation as long as intervalley scattering is absent, according to theoretical predictions. In this work, using atomic-resolution STM images of the network taken at room temperature, the authors show that the topological network is indeed valley protected.
Topics & Concepts
Bilayer grapheneGraphenePoint reflectionCondensed matter physicsBilayerElectric fieldScanning tunneling microscopeMaterials sciencePhysicsNanotechnologyChemistryMembraneQuantum mechanicsBiochemistryGraphene research and applicationsQuantum and electron transport phenomenaTopological Materials and Phenomena