Unconventional satellite resistance peaks in moir\'e superlattice of h-BN/ AB-stacked tetralayer-graphene heterostructure

TL;DR

This study reveals unconventional resistance peaks in h-BN/AB-stacked tetralayer graphene moiré superlattices caused by Fermi surface folding and band mixing, differing from typical secondary Dirac cone phenomena.

Contribution

It uncovers new electronic features in multilayer graphene moiré superlattices, highlighting effects of Fermi surface anisotropy and internal gap openings not previously understood.

Findings

Resistivity peaks depend on perpendicular electric field.

Gaps open inside the superlattice Brillouin zone.

Superlattice peaks result from band mixing of light- and heavy-mass bands.

Abstract

Most studies on moir\'e superlattices formed from a stack of h-BN and graphene have focused on single layer graphene; graphene with multiple layers is less understood. Here, we show that a moir\'e superlattice of multilayer graphene shows new features arising from the anisotropic Fermi surface affected by the superlattice structure. The moir\'e superlattice of a h-BN/AB-stacked tetralayer graphene heterostructure exhibited resistivity peaks showing a complicated dependence on the perpendicular electric field. The peaks were not due to secondary Dirac cones forming, but rather opening of the energy gap due to folding of the anisotropic Fermi surface. In addition, superlattice peaks resulted from mixing of light- and heavy-mass bilayer-like bands via the superlattice potential. The gaps did not open on the boundary of the superlattice Brillouin zone, but rather opened inside it, which reflected the anisotropy of the Fermi surface of multilayer graphene.