Manipulating single excess electrons in monolayer transition metal dihalide

Min Cai, Mao-Peng Miao, Yunfan Liang, Zeyu Jiang, Zhen-Yu Liu, Wen-Hao Zhang, Xin Liao, Lan-Fang Zhu, Damien West, Shengbai Zhang and Ying-Shuang Fu ()
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Min Cai: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Mao-Peng Miao: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Yunfan Liang: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Zeyu Jiang: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Zhen-Yu Liu: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Wen-Hao Zhang: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Xin Liao: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Lan-Fang Zhu: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Damien West: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Shengbai Zhang: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Ying-Shuang Fu: Huazhong University of Science and Technology

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Polarons are entities of excess electrons dressed with local response of lattices, whose atomic-scale characterization is essential for understanding the many body physics arising from the electron-lattice entanglement, yet difficult to achieve. Here, using scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy (STM/STS), we show the visualization and manipulation of single polarons in monolayer CoCl2, that are grown on HOPG substrate via molecular beam epitaxy. Two types of polarons are identified, both inducing upward local band bending, but exhibiting distinct appearances, lattice occupations and polaronic states. First principles calculations unveil origin of polarons that are stabilized by cooperative electron-electron and electron-phonon interactions. Both types of polarons can be created, moved, erased, and moreover interconverted individually by the STM tip, as driven by tip electric field and inelastic electron tunneling effect. This finding identifies the rich category of polarons in CoCl2 and their feasibility of precise control unprecedently, which can be generalized to other transition metal halides.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39360-1

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