Band flattening in buckled monolayer graphene

TL;DR

This paper explores how periodic strain in monolayer graphene can induce flat electronic bands via pseudo-magnetic fields, offering a simpler platform than twisted bilayer graphene for studying correlated quantum phases.

Contribution

It demonstrates that strain engineering in monolayer graphene can produce flat bands, providing a new, versatile approach to access correlated electronic phases without multilayer structures.

Findings

Periodic strain induces pseudo-magnetic fields in graphene.

Flat bands can be achieved with single-layer graphene through strain.

Strain-engineered graphene offers advantages over twisted bilayer systems.

Abstract

The strain fields of periodically buckled graphene induce a periodic pseudo-magnetic field (PMF) that modifies the electronic band structure. From the geometry, amplitude, and period of the periodic pseudo-magnetic field, we determine the necessary conditions to access the regime of correlated phases by examining the band flattening. As compared to twisted bilayer graphene the proposed system has the advantages that: 1) only a single layer of graphene is needed, 2) one is not limited to hexagonal superlattices, and 3) narrower flat bandwidth and larger separation between flat bands can be induced. We, therefore, propose that periodically strained graphene single layers can become a platform for the exploration of exotic many-body phases.