One-dimensional moire chains with partially-filled flat bands in two-dimensional twisted bilayer WSe2 (2311.15555v1)

Abstract: Two-dimensional (2D) moire systems based on twisted bilayer graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides provide a promising platform to investigate emergent phenomena driven by strong electron-electron interactions in partially-filled flat bands1-11. A natural question arises: is it possible to expand the 2D correlated moire physics to one-dimensional (1D)? This requires selectively doping of 1D moire chain embedded in the 2D moire systems, which is an outstanding challenge in experiment and seems to be not within the grasp of today's technology. Therefore, an experimental demonstration of the 1D moire chain with partially-filled flat bands remains absent. Here we show that we can introduce 1D boundaries, separating two regions with different twist angles, in twisted bilayer WSe2 (tWSe2) by using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), and demonstrate that the flat bands of moire sites along the 1D boundaries can be selectively filled. The charge and discharge states of correlated moire electrons in the 1D moire chain can be directly imaged and manipulated by combining a back-gate voltage with the STM bias. Our results open the door for realizing new correlated electronic states of the 1D moire chain in 2D systems.