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Quantum Oscillations in Two-Dimensional Insulators Induced by Graphite Gates

Cornell Affiliated Author(s)
Author
J. Zhu
T. Li
A.F. Young
J. Shan
K.F. Mak
Abstract

We demonstrate a mechanism for magnetoresistance oscillations in insulating states of two-dimensional (2D) materials arising from the interaction of the 2D layer and proximal graphite gates. We study a series of devices based on different 2D systems, including mono- and bilayer Td-WTe2, MoTe2/WSe2 moiré heterobilayers, and Bernal-stacked bilayer graphene, which all share a similar graphite-gated geometry.

Journal
Physical Review Letters
Date Published
Funding Source
DMR-2039380
N00014-20-1-2609
W911NF-17-1-0605
GBMF9471
DMR-1719875
Group (Lab)
Jie Shan Group
Kin Fai Mak Group

Excitons and emergent quantum phenomena in stacked 2D semiconductors

Cornell Affiliated Author(s)
Author
N.P. Wilson
W. Yao
J. Shan
X. Xu
Abstract

The design and control of material interfaces is a foundational approach to realize technologically useful effects and engineer material properties. This is especially true for two-dimensional (2D) materials, where van der Waals stacking allows disparate materials to be freely stacked together to form highly customizable interfaces. This has underpinned a recent wave of discoveries based on excitons in stacked double layers of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), the archetypal family of 2D semiconductors.

Journal
Nature
Date Published
Funding Source
DE-SC0019481
DE-SC0018171
EXC-2111—390814868
AoE/P-701/20
Group (Lab)
Jie Shan Group

Strongly correlated excitonic insulator in atomic double layers

Cornell Affiliated Author(s)
Author
L. Ma
P.X. Nguyen
Z. Wang
Y. Zeng
K. Watanabe
T. Taniguchi
A.H. MacDonald
K.F. Mak
J. Shan
Abstract

Excitonic insulators (EIs) arise from the formation of bound electron–hole pairs (excitons)1,2 in semiconductors and provide a solid-state platform for quantum many-boson physics3–8. Strong exciton–exciton repulsion is expected to stabilize condensed superfluid and crystalline phases by suppressing both density and phase fluctuations8–11. Although spectroscopic signatures of EIs have been reported6,12–14, conclusive evidence for strongly correlated EI states has remained elusive.

Journal
Nature
Date Published
Funding Source
DMR-2004451
N00014-21-1-2471
DE-SC0019481
DE-SC0022058
NNCI-2025233
JPMJCR15F3
Group (Lab)
Jie Shan Group
Kin Fai Mak Group

Air-Stable and Layer-Dependent Ferromagnetism in Atomically Thin van der Waals CrPS4

Cornell Affiliated Author(s)
Author
J. Son
S. Son
P. Park
M. Kim
Z. Tao
J. Oh
T. Lee
S. Lee
J. Kim
K. Zhang
K. Cho
T. Kamiyama
J.H. Lee
K.F. Mak
J. Shan
M. Kim
J.-G. Park
J. Lee
Abstract

Ferromagnetism in two-dimensional materials presents a promising platform for the development of ultrathin spintronic devices with advanced functionalities. Recently discovered ferromagnetic van der Waals crystals such as CrI3, readily isolated two-dimensional crystals, are highly tunable through external fields or structural modifications. However, there remains a challenge because of material instability under air exposure. Here, we report the observation of an air-stable and layer-dependent ferromagnetic (FM) van der Waals crystal, CrPS4, using magneto-optic Kerr effect microscopy.

Journal
ACS Nano
Date Published
Funding Source
DMR-1807810
2017R1C1B2002631
2020R1A2C2011334
2020R1A5A6052558
2021R1A5A1032996
2017M3D1A1040828
2017R1A2B3011629
2020R1A3B2079375
IBS-R009-G1
Group (Lab)
Jie Shan Group
Kin Fai Mak Group

Charge-order-enhanced capacitance in semiconductor moiré superlattices

Cornell Affiliated Author(s)
Author
T. Li
J. Zhu
Y. Tang
K. Watanabe
T. Taniguchi
V. Elser
J. Shan
K.F. Mak
Abstract

Van der Waals moiré materials have emerged as a highly controllable platform to study electronic correlation phenomena1–17. Robust correlated insulating states have recently been discovered at both integer and fractional filling factors of semiconductor moiré systems10–17. In this study we explored the thermodynamic properties of these states by measuring the gate capacitance of MoSe2/WS2 moiré superlattices. We observed a series of incompressible states for filling factors 0–8 and anomalously large capacitance in the intervening compressible regions.

Journal
Nature Nanotechnology
Date Published
Funding Source
FA9550-18-1-0480
DMR-1539918
NNCI-1542081
DE-SC0019481
JPMJCR15F3
Group (Lab)
Jie Shan Group
Kin Fai Mak Group
Veit Elser Group

Continuous Mott transition in semiconductor moiré superlattices

Author
T. Li
S. Jiang
L. Li
Y. Zhang
K. Kang
J. Zhu
K. Watanabe
T. Taniguchi
Debanjan Chowdhury
L. Fu
J. Shan
K.F. Mak
Abstract

The evolution of a Landau Fermi liquid into a non-magnetic Mott insulator with increasing electronic interactions is one of the most puzzling quantum phase transitions in physics1–6. The vicinity of the transition is believed to host exotic states of matter such as quantum spin liquids4–7, exciton condensates8 and unconventional superconductivity1. Semiconductor moiré materials realize a highly controllable Hubbard model simulator on a triangular lattice9–22, providing a unique opportunity to drive a metal–insulator transition (MIT) via continuous tuning of the electronic interactions.

Journal
Nature
Date Published
Funding Source
DMR-1807810
W911NF-17-1-0605
DMR-1719875
NNCI-1542081
JPMJCR15F3
Group (Lab)
Debanjan Chowdhury Group
Jie Shan Group
Kin Fai Mak Group

Two-fold symmetric superconductivity in few-layer NbSe2

Cornell Affiliated Author(s)
Author
A. Hamill
B. Heischmidt
E. Sohn
D. Shaffer
K.-T. Tsai
X. Zhang
X. Xi
A. Suslov
H. Berger
L. Forró
F.J. Burnell
J. Shan
K.F. Mak
R.M. Fernandes
K. Wang
V.S. Pribiag
Abstract

The strong Ising spin–orbit coupling in certain two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides can profoundly affect the superconducting state in few-layer samples. For example, in NbSe2, this effect combines with the reduced dimensionality to stabilize the superconducting state against magnetic fields up to 35 T, and could lead to topological superconductivity. Here we report a two-fold rotational symmetry of the superconducting state in few-layer NbSe2 under in-plane external magnetic fields, in contrast to the three-fold symmetry of the lattice.

Journal
Nature Physics
Date Published
Funding Source
DMR-2011401
2011401
DMR-1420013
DMR-1644779
DMR-1807810
ECCS-1542202
N00014-18-1-2368
Group (Lab)
Jie Shan Group
Kin Fai Mak Group

Stripe phases in WSe2/WS2 moiré superlattices

Cornell Affiliated Author(s)
Author
C. Jin
Z. Tao
T. Li
Y. Xu
Y. Tang
J. Zhu
S. Liu
K. Watanabe
T. Taniguchi
J.C. Hone
L. Fu
J. Shan
K.F. Mak
Abstract

Stripe phases, in which the rotational symmetry of charge density is spontaneously broken, occur in many strongly correlated systems with competing interactions1–11. However, identifying and studying such stripe phases remains challenging. Here we uncover stripe phases in WSe2/WS2 moiré superlattices by combining optical anisotropy and electronic compressibility measurements. We find strong electronic anisotropy over a large doping range peaked at 1/2 filling of the moiré superlattice. The 1/2 state is incompressible and assigned to an insulating stripe crystal phase.

Journal
Nature Materials
Date Published
Funding Source
N00014-18-1-2368 Here
FA9550-20-1-0219
DE-SC0019481
W911NF-17-1-0605
JPMJCR15F3
Group (Lab)
Jie Shan Group
Kin Fai Mak Group

Spin Dynamics Slowdown near the Antiferromagnetic Critical Point in Atomically Thin FePS3

Cornell Affiliated Author(s)
Author
X.-X. Zhang
S. Jiang
J. Lee
C. Lee
K.F. Mak
J. Shan
Abstract

Two-dimensional (2D) magnetic materials have attracted much recent interest with unique properties emerging at the few-layer limit. Beyond the reported impacts on the static magnetic properties, the effects of reducing the dimensionality on the magnetization dynamics are also of fundamental interest and importance for 2D device development. In this report, we investigate the spin dynamics in atomically thin antiferromagnetic FePS3 of varying layer numbers using ultrafast pump-probe spectroscopy.

Journal
Nano Letters
Date Published
Funding Source
DMR-1807810
FA9550-19-1-0390
FA9550-20-1-0219
NRF- 2020R1A2C2014687
Group (Lab)
Jie Shan Group
Kin Fai Mak Group

Creation of moiré bands in a monolayer semiconductor by spatially periodic dielectric screening

Cornell Affiliated Author(s)
Author
Y. Xu
C. Horn
J. Zhu
Y. Tang
L. Ma
L. Li
S. Liu
K. Watanabe
T. Taniguchi
J.C. Hone
J. Shan
K.F. Mak
Abstract

Moiré superlattices of two-dimensional van der Waals materials have emerged as a powerful platform for designing electronic band structures and discovering emergent physical phenomena. A key concept involves the creation of long-wavelength periodic potential and moiré bands in a crystal through interlayer electronic hybridization or atomic corrugation when two materials are overlaid. Here we demonstrate a new approach based on spatially periodic dielectric screening to create moiré bands in a monolayer semiconductor.

Journal
Nature Materials
Date Published
Funding Source
DMR-1539918
FA9550-18-1-0480
W911NF-17-1-0605
DE-SC0019481
JPMJCR15F3
Group (Lab)
Jie Shan Group
Kin Fai Mak Group