Visualizing electronic structure of twisted bilayer MoTe 2 in devices

Journal article

The pursuit of emergent quantum phenomena lies at the forefront of modern condensed matter physics. A recent breakthrough in this arena is the discovery of the fractional quantum anomalous Hall effect (FQAHE) in twisted bilayer MoTe₂ (tbMoTe₂), marking a paradigm shift and establishing a versatile platform for exploring the intricate interplay among topology, magnetism, and electron correlations. While significant progress has been made through both optical and electrical transport measurements, direct experimental insights into the electronic structure – crucial for understanding and modeling this system – have remained elusive. Here, using spatially and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (μ-ARPES), we directly map the electronic band structure of tbMoTe₂. We identify the valence band maximum, whose partial filling underlies the FQAHE, at the K points, situated approximately 150 meV above the Γ valley. By fine-tuning the doping level via in-situ alkali metal deposition, we also resolve the conduction band minimum at the K point, providing direct evidence that tbMoTe₂ exhibits a direct band gap – distinct from all previously known moiré bilayer transition metal dichalcogenide systems. These results offer critical insights for theoretical modeling and advance our understanding of fractionalized excitations and correlated topological phases in this emergent quantum material.

Authors: Chen, C; Holtzmann, W; Zhang, X; Anderson, E; He, S

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Nature Research
• Journal: Communications Physics
• Volume: 9
• Issue: 1
• Article number: 62
• Publication date: 2026-01-27
• Acceptance date: 2026-01-06
• DOI: 10.1038/s42005-026-02497-8
• EISSN: 2399-3650
• ISSN: 2399-3650
• Language: English
• Keywords: Electronic structure; Bilayer; Electronic band structure; Band gap; Photoemission spectroscopy; Semimetal; Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy; Quantum