journal article·2026-04

Moiré enhanced flat band in rhombohedral graphene

Hongyun Zhang, Jinxi Lu, Kai Liu, Yijie Wang, Fei Wang, Size Wu, Wanying Chen, Xuanxi Cai, Kenji Watanabe, Takashi Taniguchi, Jose Avila, Pavel Dudin, Matthew D. Watson, Alex Louat, Takafumi Sato, Pu Yu, Wenhui Duan, Zhida Song, Guorui Chen, Shuyun Zhou

Nature Materials· Volume 25· Issue 4
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Abstract

The fractional quantum anomalous Hall effect (FQAHE) is a fascinating emergent quantum state characterized by fractionally charged excitations in the absence of a magnetic field. Recently, the FQAHE has been observed in aligned rhombohedral pentalayer graphene on BN (aligned R5G/BN)1 with moiré potential. Intriguingly, the FQAHE preferably emerges when carriers are displaced away from the moiré interface1-3, raising debates about the role of moiré potential4-17. Here, by performing nanospot angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we directly visualize the topological flat band in both aligned and non-aligned R5G/BN. The moiré potential in the aligned sample generates moiré bands and enhances the topological flat band as compared to non-aligned sample. Combined with theoretical calculations, we propose that the moiré bands on the top surface arise through the interlayer Coulomb interaction with the moiré-modulated bottom layer. Our results provide direct experimental evidence for the role of moiré potential in aligned rhombohedral graphene, and establish a foundation for understanding its emergent quantum phenomena.
Source: europepmc · Quality: candidate unverified · Source record ↗

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Graphene research and applications · Topological Materials and Phenomena · Quantum and electron transport phenomena

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

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