Bi2Se3 thin films heteroepitaxially grown on α−RuCl3

Van der Waals heterostructures composed of topologically nontrivial materials are attractive platforms to explore a wide variety of unique materials properties and emergent quantum phenomena. The authors demonstrate molecular beam epitaxial growth of Bi${}_{2}$Se${}_{3}$ thin films on $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-RuCl${}_{3}$ single crystal layers as a prototypical van der Waals heterostructure of a topological insulator and a quantum spin liquid. Their microstructural analysis shows the formation of commensurate supercells with a well-defined moire periodicity, enabled by van der Waals heteroepitaxy. They also investigate electrical transport properties of the heterostructure with temperature-dependent Hall measurements.