Epitaxially Defined Luttinger Liquids on MoS_{2} Bicrystals

Area of Science:

• Condensed Matter Physics
• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Mirror twin boundaries (MTBs) in transition metal dichalcogenide monolayers can host unique topological one-dimensional electron liquids.
• Electrical characterization of these MTBs has been limited by sample size and quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To electrically characterize individual, large-scale mirror twin boundaries (MTBs) in transition metal dichalcogenide monolayers.
• To investigate the electronic properties and behavior of these topological systems.

Main Methods:

• Epitaxial growth of large-scale monolayer molybdenum disulfide bicrystals.
• Conductance measurements of individual MTBs as a function of temperature and bias voltage.
• Analysis of transport measurements to identify electronic behaviors and defect roles.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated power-law conductance behavior consistent with Luttinger liquid theory up to room temperature.
• Identified distinct types of MTBs based on transport measurements.
• Revealed the significant influence of atomic-scale defects on MTB properties.

Conclusions:

• MTBs in transition metal dichalcogenide monolayers are viable platforms for studying topological electronic states.
• The observed Luttinger liquid behavior highlights the importance of tunable interactions in these systems.
• Atomic defects critically impact the electronic properties of MTBs, offering avenues for control.