Layer-hybridized correlated insulating states in a WS₂/WSe₂ moiré superlattice

In moiré superlattices of transitional metal dichalcogenides (TMD), the enhanced Coulomb interaction gives rise to rich correlated electronic states such as Mott insulators and generalized Wigner crystals. The introduction of layer degree of freedom to the moiré superlattice presents a new method to tune the electronic correlation, exemplified by phenomena like the excitonic insulator in monolayer WS₂/bilayer WSe₂. In this talk, we study angle-aligned monolayerWS₂/trilayer WSe₂ heterostructure in a dual gate geometry and employ microwave impedance microscopy to probe the formation of insulating states. We observe correlated insulating states atfilling factors of, n=-1/3, -2/3, -1 and -2. Notably, these states exhibit insensitivity to the hole distribution among WSe₂ layers, which is controlled by the applied vertical electric field. This result suggests the formation of layer-hybridized correlated states in the heterostructure, with each hole shared between the first and third layer WSe₂ via interlayer hopping of hole with same spin and valley indices. The hybridization across layers is also supported by the observation of hybridization of interlayer and intralayer excitons in the trilayer WSe₂.