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Graphene moiré superlattices with giant quantum nonlinearity of chiral Bloch electrons

Graphene-based samples have shown a plethora of exotic characteristics and these properties may help the realization of a new generation of fast electronic devices. However, graphene’s centrosymmetry prohibits second-order electronic… Click to show full abstract

Graphene-based samples have shown a plethora of exotic characteristics and these properties may help the realization of a new generation of fast electronic devices. However, graphene’s centrosymmetry prohibits second-order electronic transport. Here, we show giant second-order nonlinear transports in graphene moiré superlattices at zero magnetic field, both longitudinal and transverse to the applied current direction. High carrier mobility and inversion symmetry breaking by hexagonal boron nitride lead to nonlinear conductivities five orders of magnitude larger than those in WTe2. The nonlinear conductivity strongly depends on the gate voltage as well as on the stacking configuration, with a giant enhancement originating from the moiré bands. Longitudinal nonlinear conductivity cannot originate from Berry curvature dipoles. Our theoretical modelling highlights skew scattering of chiral Bloch electrons as the physical origin. With these results, we demonstrate nonlinear charge transport due to valley-contrasting chirality, which constitutes an alternative means to induce second-order transports in van der Waals heterostructures. Our approach is promising for applications in frequency-doubling and energy harvesting via rectification. Graphene has a centrosymmetric crystal symmetry, which prohibits second-order effects in transport experiments. Yet, giant second-order nonlinear transports can emerge in graphene moiré superlattices at zero magnetic field, originating from the skew scattering of chiral Bloch electrons in the superlattice and giving rise to both longitudinal and transverse nonlinear conductivities under time-reversal symmetry.

Keywords: bloch electrons; moir superlattices; chiral bloch; graphene moir; second order

Journal Title: Nature Nanotechnology
Year Published: 2022

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