- Using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy supported by theoretical calculations, we studied the electronic structure of a breathing kagome semiconductors Nb3I8and Nb3Br8.
- Results:(i) Observation of flat and weakly dispersing bands (see figure alongside) in the electronic structure, (ii) these bands show sensitivity to light polarization, (iii) Calculations qualitatively reproduce the observations and show these bands come from Nb-d bands implying the breathing kagome origination of the bands. Nb3I8: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43246-022-00318-3
- Significance:(i) Insight into the flat band physics coming from breathing kagome lattice in an exfoliable van der Waals system, (ii) flat bands give rise to electronic correlations in a system where the constituent elements are not supposed to provide correlated electrons.
- Outlook:Substitution of halogen atom in Nb3Br8-xIx (x=0-8) would allow us to study the tunability of the flat and weakly dispersing bands in this family of materials..
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Seed Project
PREM Center for Ultrafast Dynamics and Catalysis in Emerging Materials (C-UDCEM)
The PREM Center for Ultrafast Dynamics and Catalysis in Emerging Materials (C-UDCEM) at UCF is an NSF funded Partnerships for Research and Education in Materials (PREM) seed Center.