Evidence for Exciton Crystals in a 2D Semiconductor Heterotrilayer

Authors:
  • YBYusong Bai
    Yusong Bai
  • SLSong Liu
    Song Liu
  • YGYinjie Guo
    Yinjie Guo
  • JPJordan Pack
    Jordan Pack
  • JWJue Wang
    Jue Wang
  • CDCory R. Dean
    Cory R. Dean
  • JHJames Hone
    James Hone
  • XZX. -Y. Zhu
    X. -Y. Zhu

Abstract
Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDC) and their moire interfaces have been demonstrated for correlated electron states, including Mott insulators and electron/hole crystals commensurate with moire superlattices. Here we present spectroscopic evidences for ordered bosons - interlayer exciton crystals in a WSe2/MoSe2/WSe2 trilayer, where the enhanced Coulomb interactions over those in heterobilayers have been predicted to result in exciton ordering. While the dipolar interlayer excitons in the heterobilayer may be ordered by the periodic moire traps, their mutual repulsion results in de-trapping at exciton density larger than 10^11 cm^-2 to form mobile exciton gases and further to electron-hole plasmas, both accompanied by broadening in photoluminescence (PL) peaks and large increases in mobility. In contrast, ordered interlayer excitons in the trilayer are characterized by negligible mobility and by sharper PL peaks persisting to nex larger than 10^12 cm^-2. We find that an optically dark state attributed to the predicted quadrupolar exciton crystal transitions to the bright dipolar excitons either with increasing nex or by an applied electric field. These ordered interlayer excitons may serve as models for the exploration of quantum phase transitions and quantum coherent phenomena.