Observation of kagome-like bands in two-dimensional semiconducting Cr<sub>8</sub>Se<sub>12</sub>.

Duan, Sisheng; You, Jing-Yang; Cai, Zhihao; Gou, Jian; Li, Dong; Huang, Yu Li; Yu, Xiaojiang; Teo, Siew Lang et al. · Nat Commun · 2024

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

The kagome lattice is a versatile platform for investigating correlated electronic states. However, its realization in two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors for tunable device applications is still challenging. An alternative strategy to create kagome-like bands is to realize a coloring-triangle (CT) lattice in semiconductors through a distortion of a modified triangular lattice. Here, we report the observation of low-energy kagome-like bands in a semiconducting 2D transition metal chalcogenide-Cr<sub>8</sub>Se<sub>12</sub> with a thickness of 7 atomic layers-which exhibits a CT lattice and a bandgap of 0.8 eV. The Cr-deficient layer beneath the topmost Se-full layer is partially occupied with 2/3 occupancy, yielding a √3 × √3 Cr honeycomb network. Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy measurements and first-principles investigations reveal the surface kagome-like bands near the valence band maximum, which are attributed to topmost Se p<sub>z</sub> orbitals modulated by the honeycomb Cr.