Quantum spin Hall effect from multi-scale band inversion in twisted bilayer Bi$_2$(Te$_{1-x}$Se$_x$)$_3$

Abstract

Moir\'e materials have become one of the most active fields in material science in recent years due to their high tunability, and their unique properties emerge from the Moir\'e-scale structure modulation. Here, we propose twisted bilayer Bi$_2$(Te$_{1-x}$Se$_x$)$_3$ as a new Moir\'e material where the Moir\'e-scale modulation induces a topological phase transition. We show, in twisted bilayer Bi$_2$(Te$_{1-x}$Se$_x$)$_3$, a topological insulator domain and a normal insulator domain coexist in the Moir\'e lattice structure, and edge states on the domain boundary make nearly flat bands that dominate the material properties. The edge states further contribute to a Moir\'e-scale band inversion, resulting in Moir\'e-scale topological states. There are corresponding Moir\'e-scale edge states and they are so to speak "edge state from edge state", which is a unique feature of twisted bilayer Bi$_2$(Te$_{1-x}$Se$_x$)$_3$. Our result not only proposes novel quantum phases in twisted bilayer Bi$_2$Te$_3$-family, but also suggests the twisting of stacking sensitive topological materials paves an avenue in the search for novel quantum materials and devices.