
Heterostructures involving graphene and bismuth, with their ability to absorb light over a very wide energy range, are of interest for engineering next-generation opto-electronics. Critical to the technological application of such heterostructures is an understanding of the underlying physics governing their properties. Here, using first-principles calculations, we study the interfacial interactions between graphene and bismuth thin-films. Our study reveals non-intuitive phenomena associated with the moiré-physics of these superlattices. We show a preservation of graphene-derived Dirac cones in spite of proximity to a substrate with large spin-orbit coupling, a greater influence of graphene on the electronic structure properties of bismuth, and the surprising presence of a magnetic solution, only slightly higher in energy (by several meV) than the non-magnetic structure, possibly validating experiments. Such subtle and unanticipated phenomena associated with the moiré-physics are expected to play key roles in the practical applications of heterogeneous assemblies of two-dimensional quantum systems.
Condensed Matter - Materials Science, Condensed Matter - Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics, Physics, QC1-999, Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics (cond-mat.mes-hall), Materials Science (cond-mat.mtrl-sci), FOS: Physical sciences
Condensed Matter - Materials Science, Condensed Matter - Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics, Physics, QC1-999, Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics (cond-mat.mes-hall), Materials Science (cond-mat.mtrl-sci), FOS: Physical sciences
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 4 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Average |
