Probing the spin-polarized electronic band structure in monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides by optical spectroscopy

TL;DR

This study uses optical spectroscopy to investigate the spin-polarized electronic band structure of monolayer WSe2 and MoSe2, revealing distinct spin configurations and energy splittings relevant for spintronic applications.

Contribution

It provides experimental evidence of spin polarization in the conduction bands of monolayer WSe2 and MoSe2, with quantitative measurements aligning with theoretical predictions.

Findings

Electrons in WSe2 have antiparallel spins in valence and conduction bands.

Electrons in MoSe2 have parallel spins in valence and conduction bands.

Valence band spin splitting is hundreds of meV; conduction band splitting is tens of meV.

Abstract

We study the electronic band structure in the K/K' valleys of the Brillouin zone of monolayer WSe2 and MoSe2 by optical reflection and photoluminescence spectroscopy on dual-gated field-effect devices. Our experiment reveals the distinct spin polarization in the conduction bands of these compounds by a systematic study of the doping dependence of the A and B excitonic resonances. Electrons in the highest-energy valence band and the lowest-energy conduction band have antiparallel spins in monolayer WSe2, and parallel spins in monolayer MoSe2. The spin splitting is determined to be hundreds of meV for the valence bands and tens of meV for the conduction bands, which are in good agreement with first principles calculations. These values also suggest that both n- and p-type WSe2 and MoSe2 can be relevant for spin- and valley-based applications