Orbital textures and evolution of correlated insulating state in monolayer 1T phase transition metal dichalcogenides

Abstract Strong electron-electron interaction can induce Mott insulating state, which is believed to host unusual correlated phenomena such as quantum spin liquid when quantum fluctuation dominates and unconventional superconductivity through doping. Transition metal compounds as correlated material...

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Main Authors: Qiang Gao, Haiyang Chen, Wen-shin Lu, Yang-hao Chan, Zhenhua Chen, Yaobo Huang, Zhengtai Liu, Peng Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59228-w
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author Qiang Gao
Haiyang Chen
Wen-shin Lu
Yang-hao Chan
Zhenhua Chen
Yaobo Huang
Zhengtai Liu
Peng Chen
author_facet Qiang Gao
Haiyang Chen
Wen-shin Lu
Yang-hao Chan
Zhenhua Chen
Yaobo Huang
Zhengtai Liu
Peng Chen
author_sort Qiang Gao
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Strong electron-electron interaction can induce Mott insulating state, which is believed to host unusual correlated phenomena such as quantum spin liquid when quantum fluctuation dominates and unconventional superconductivity through doping. Transition metal compounds as correlated materials provide a versatile platform to engineer the Mott insulating state. Previous studies mostly focused on the controlling of the repulsive interaction and bandwidth of the electrons by gating or doping. Here, we performed angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) on monolayer 1T phase NbSe2, TaSe2, and TaS2 and directly observed their band structures with characteristic lower Hubbard bands. By systematically investigating the orbital textures and temperature dependence of the energy gap of the materials in this family, we discovered that hybridization of the chalcogen p states with lower Hubbard band stabilizes the Mott phase via tuning of the bandwidth, as shown by a significant increase of the transition temperature (T C) at a stronger hybridization strength. Our findings reveal a mechanism for realizing a robust Mott insulating phase and establish monolayer 1T phase transition metal dichalcogenide family as a promising platform for exploring correlated electron problems.
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spelling doaj-art-4d9e563aa4d948aabaf5830d03e122ee2025-08-20T02:19:57ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-04-011611610.1038/s41467-025-59228-wOrbital textures and evolution of correlated insulating state in monolayer 1T phase transition metal dichalcogenidesQiang Gao0Haiyang Chen1Wen-shin Lu2Yang-hao Chan3Zhenhua Chen4Yaobo Huang5Zhengtai Liu6Peng Chen7Key Laboratory of Artificial Structures and Quantum Control (Ministry of Education), Tsung-Dao Lee Institute, Shanghai Center for Complex Physics, School of Physics and Astronomy, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityKey Laboratory of Artificial Structures and Quantum Control (Ministry of Education), Tsung-Dao Lee Institute, Shanghai Center for Complex Physics, School of Physics and Astronomy, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityInstitute of Atomic and Molecular Sciences, Academia SinicaInstitute of Atomic and Molecular Sciences, Academia SinicaShanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of SciencesShanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of SciencesShanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of SciencesKey Laboratory of Artificial Structures and Quantum Control (Ministry of Education), Tsung-Dao Lee Institute, Shanghai Center for Complex Physics, School of Physics and Astronomy, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityAbstract Strong electron-electron interaction can induce Mott insulating state, which is believed to host unusual correlated phenomena such as quantum spin liquid when quantum fluctuation dominates and unconventional superconductivity through doping. Transition metal compounds as correlated materials provide a versatile platform to engineer the Mott insulating state. Previous studies mostly focused on the controlling of the repulsive interaction and bandwidth of the electrons by gating or doping. Here, we performed angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) on monolayer 1T phase NbSe2, TaSe2, and TaS2 and directly observed their band structures with characteristic lower Hubbard bands. By systematically investigating the orbital textures and temperature dependence of the energy gap of the materials in this family, we discovered that hybridization of the chalcogen p states with lower Hubbard band stabilizes the Mott phase via tuning of the bandwidth, as shown by a significant increase of the transition temperature (T C) at a stronger hybridization strength. Our findings reveal a mechanism for realizing a robust Mott insulating phase and establish monolayer 1T phase transition metal dichalcogenide family as a promising platform for exploring correlated electron problems.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59228-w
spellingShingle Qiang Gao
Haiyang Chen
Wen-shin Lu
Yang-hao Chan
Zhenhua Chen
Yaobo Huang
Zhengtai Liu
Peng Chen
Orbital textures and evolution of correlated insulating state in monolayer 1T phase transition metal dichalcogenides
Nature Communications
title Orbital textures and evolution of correlated insulating state in monolayer 1T phase transition metal dichalcogenides
title_full Orbital textures and evolution of correlated insulating state in monolayer 1T phase transition metal dichalcogenides
title_fullStr Orbital textures and evolution of correlated insulating state in monolayer 1T phase transition metal dichalcogenides
title_full_unstemmed Orbital textures and evolution of correlated insulating state in monolayer 1T phase transition metal dichalcogenides
title_short Orbital textures and evolution of correlated insulating state in monolayer 1T phase transition metal dichalcogenides
title_sort orbital textures and evolution of correlated insulating state in monolayer 1t phase transition metal dichalcogenides
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59228-w
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