Topological charge pumping in twisted bilayer graphene

Abstract

We show that a sliding motion between the two layers of a \moire superlattice induces an electric current and realizes a two-dimensional version of the topological Thouless pump when the Fermi energy lies in one of the minigaps. Interestingly, a chiral charge pump, namely, a transverse current induced by the sliding motion, is possible in twisted homobilayers. This result is confirmed by a concrete calculation of the adiabatic current in twisted bilayer graphene. Our work reveals an interesting link between mechanical motion and electricity unique to \moire superlattices, and may find applications in nanogenerators and nanomotors.

5 pages, 3 figures. Minor typos corrected

References in corpus (5)

• Observation of Moiré Excitons in WSe2/WS2 Heterostructure Superlattices
• Resonantly hybridised excitons in moiré superlattices in van der Waals heterostructures
• Continuum Model of the Twisted Bilayer
• Topological charge pumping by sliding moiré pattern
• Topological Sliding Moiré Heterostructure

Cited by in corpus (8)

• Tunable Layer Circular Photogalvanic Effect in Twisted Bilayers
• Two-dimensional Thouless pumping of light in photonic moiré lattices
• Topological charge pumping by sliding moiré pattern
• Topological Sliding Moiré Heterostructure
• Moiré edge states in twisted bilayer graphene and their topological relation to quantum pumping
• Topological phases in N-layer ABC-graphene boron-nitride moire superlattices
• Topological gap labeling with the third Chern numbers in three-dimensional quasicrystals
• Molecular Control of Floquet Topological Phase in Non-adiabatic Thouless Pumping