Superconductivity in twisted bilayer WSe2

Abstract

Moiré materials have enabled the realization of flat electron bands and quantum phases that are driven by the strong correlations associated with flat bands^1,2,3,4. Superconductivity has been observed, but only in graphene moiré materials^5,6,7,8,9. The absence of robust superconductivity in moiré materials beyond graphene, such as semiconductor moiré materials⁴, has remained a mystery and challenged our current understanding of superconductivity in flat bands. Here we report the observation of robust superconductivity in both 3.5° and 3.65° twisted bilayer tungsten diselenide (WSe₂), which hosts a hexagonal moiré lattice^10,11. Superconductivity emerges near half-band filling and zero external displacement fields. The optimal superconducting transition temperature is about 200 mK in both cases and constitutes about 1–2% of the effective Fermi temperature; the latter is comparable to the value in high-temperature cuprate superconductors¹² and suggests strong pairing. The superconductor borders on two distinct metals below and above half-band filling; it undergoes a continuous transition to a correlated insulator by tuning the external displacement field. The observed superconductivity on the verge of Coulomb-induced charge localization suggests roots in strong electron correlations^12,13.