Litcius/Paper detail

Polarization-driven band topology evolution in twisted MoTe2 and WSe2

Xiaowei Zhang, Chong Wang, Xiaoyu Liu, Yueyao Fan, Ting Cao, Di Xiao

2024Nature Communications83 citationsDOIOpen Access PDF

Abstract

homobilayers, we perform large-scale density-functional-theory calculations with machine learning force fields to investigate moiré band topology across a range of twist angles in both materials. We find that the Chern numbers of the moiré frontier bands change sign as a function of twist angle, and this change is driven by the competition between moiré ferroelectricity and piezoelectricity. Our large-scale calculations, enabled by machine learning methods, reveal crucial insights into interactions across different scales in twisted bilayer systems. The interplay between atomic-level relaxation effects and moiré-scale electrostatic potential variation opens new avenues for the design of intertwined topological and correlated states, including the possibility of mimicking higher Landau level physics in the absence of magnetic field.

Topics & Concepts

Topology (electrical circuits)PhysicsPolarization (electrochemistry)FerroelectricityCondensed matter physicsLength scaleQuantum mechanicsMathematicsPhysical chemistryDielectricCombinatoricsChemistry2D Materials and ApplicationsTopological Materials and PhenomenaMachine Learning in Materials Science