arXiv · 2311.10606
Revealing the Charge Density Wave Proximity Effect in Graphene on 1T-TaS$_2$
Abstract
The proximity-effect, whereby materials in contact appropriate each others electronic-properties, is widely used to induce correlated states, such as superconductivity or magnetism, at heterostructure interfaces. Thus far however, demonstrating the existence of proximity-induced charge-density-waves (PI-CDW) proved challenging. This is due to competing effects, such as screening or co-tunneling into the parent material, that obscured its presence. Here we report the observation of a PI-CDW in a graphene layer contacted by a 1T-TaS2 substrate. Using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and spectroscopy (STS) together with theoretical-modeling, we show that the coexistence of a CDW with a Mott gap in 1T-TaS2 coupled with the Dirac-dispersion of electrons in graphene, makes it possible to unambiguously demonstrate the PI-CDW by ruling out alternative interpretations. Furthermore, we find that the PI-CDW is accompanied by a reduction of the Mott gap in 1T-TaS2 and show that the mechanism underlying the PI-CDW is well-described by short-range exchange-interactions that are distinctly different from previously observed proximity effects.
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Nikhil Tilak, Michael Altvater, Sheng-Hsiung Hung, Choong-Jae Won, Guohong Li, Taha Kaleem, Sang-Wook Cheong, Chung-Hou Chung, Horng-Tay Jeng, Eva Y. Andrei. 2023-11-17. Revealing the Charge Density Wave Proximity Effect in Graphene on 1T-TaS$_2$. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-51608-y
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