1D metallic states at 2D transition metal dichalcogenide semiconductor heterojunctions

Sridevi Krishnamurthi, Geert Brocks*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

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Abstract

Two-dimensional (2D) lateral heterojunctions between different transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) have been realized in recent years. Homogeneous semiconducting TMDC layers are characterized by a topological invariant, their in-plane electric polarization. It suggests the possibility of one-dimensional (1D) metallic states at heterojunctions where the value of the invariant changes. We study such lateral 2D TMDC junctions by means of first-principles calculations and show that 1D metallic states emerge even in cases where the different materials are joined epitaxially. We find that the metallicity does not depend on structural details, but, as the invariant is protected by spatial symmetry only, it can be upset by breaking the symmetry. Indeed, 1D charge- and spin-density wave instabilities appear spontaneously, making 2D TMDC heterojunctions ideal systems for studying 1D systems.

Original languageEnglish
Article number43
Journalnpj 2D Materials and Applications
Volume5
Issue number1
Early online date16 Apr 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2021

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