Experimental realization of dice-lattice flat band at the Fermi level in layered electride YCl

TL;DR

This study experimentally demonstrates a dice-lattice flat band at the Fermi level in layered electride YCl, confirming theoretical predictions and establishing it as a prototype dice metal with potential for exotic correlation physics.

Contribution

First experimental observation of a dice-lattice flat band at the Fermi level in a layered electride material, bridging theory and real material realization.

Findings

Identified nearly dispersionless flat band at the Fermi level via ARPES.

Observed two sets of dice-lattice bands consistent with first-principles calculations.

Validated the electronic structure with a simple dice-lattice model.

Abstract

Flat electronic bands, where interactions among electrons overwhelm their kinetic energies, hold the promise for exotic correlation physics. The dice lattice has long been theorized as a host of flat bands with intriguing band topology. However, to date, no material has ever been found to host the characteristic flat bands of a dice lattice. Here, using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), we discover a dice-lattice flat band at $E_F$ in the van der Waals (vdW) electride [YCl]$^{2+}$: 2e-. In this system, excess valence electrons from Y deconfine from the cation framework to form an interstitial anionic electron lattice that constitutes the dice lattice. Our ARPES measurements unambiguously identify two sets of dice-lattice bands in YCl, including a nearly dispersionless band at the Fermi level. The flat bands and other dispersive bands observed in ARPES find excellent agreement with first-principles calculations, and theoretical analysis reveals that the near-$E_F$ electronic structure is well captured by a simple dice-lattice model. Our findings thus end the long quest of a real dice flat band material and establish vdW electride YCl as a prototype of dice metals. Our results further demonstrate the anionic electron lattice as a novel scheme for realizing lattice geometries and electronic structures rare to find in conventional crystalline systems.