Flat bands have been associated with excoct effects in materials, such as strong correlations, superconductivity, or the fractional quantum Hall effect.
In bulk materials they are difficult to be isolated form other electronic states. In addition, they are often at non-accessible energies.
In this work, Schoop and Bernevig collaborated to access flat bands in a new material using soft-chemical modification of a known materials.
The intimate collaboration between theory (Bernevig) and experimental chemistry (Schoop), which is facilitated by MRSEC was instrumental for this achievement.
Bernevig’s theory showed that the flat bands in questions are promising to host the desired physical effects. Schoop developed a new chemical methods that enabled to energetically access those bands.
The new material shows promise for correlations.
