Engineering tunable kagome moiré superlattices in twisted transition metal dichalcogenides
Phys. Rev. B 114, 165128 – Published 21 September, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/5h4b-18k4
Abstract
Kagome systems are ideal platforms for exploring strongly correlated phases due to their unique electronic structure and geometric frustration. While recent solid-state realizations have uncovered a wealth of correlated states, they suffer from key limitations, including limited tunability of carrier density and interaction strength. Here, we propose an experimentally viable scheme to realize a breathing kagome moiré superlattice using a twisted trilayer of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs). By twisting the top and bottom layers relative to the middle layer by small angles and , respectively, we generate a kagome-like moiré potential on the central layer. Continuum model calculations reveal an isolated kagome manifold containing a flat band, Dirac points with tunable gaps, and van Hove singularities. Crucially, this platform offers unprecedented control over band structure, carrier density, and interactions, with the twist angle and electrostatic gating serving as tuning parameters. Our work opens a new route to realizing clean, tunable kagome metals and provides a versatile platform for studying strongly correlated and topological phenomena.