Interlayer coupling induced two-dimensional electron lattice in transition metal dichalcogenides thin-films*

The strong interlayer coupling between vertically stacked two-dimensional layered materials dramatically affect the electronic structure and lattice vibration of the materials and give rise to many unique phenomena such as new interlayer excitons, and unconventional superconductivity. Using density functional theory-based calculations, we show that the interlayer interaction between the transition metal dichalcogenides layers also gives rise to an electronic lattice, which is formed between the layers. The charge in this Kagome-like electronic lattice depends on the strength of interlayer interaction. It may give rise to many interesting phenomena including topologically non-trivial states.