Holstein Polarons, Rashba-Like Spin Splitting, and Ising Superconductivity in Electron-Doped MoSe2

Abstract

Interaction between electrons and phonons in solids is a key effect defining the physical properties of materials, such as electrical and thermal conductivity. In transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), the electron–phonon coupling results in the formation of polarons, quasiparticles that manifest themselves as discrete features in the electronic spectral function. In this study, we report the formation of polarons at the alkali-dosed MoSe₂ surface, where Rashba-like spin splitting of the conduction band states is caused by an inversion-symmetry breaking electric field. In addition, we observed a crossover from phonon-like to plasmon-like polaronic spectral features at the MoSe₂ surface with increasing doping. Our findings support the concept of electron–phonon coupling-mediated superconductivity in electron-doped layered TMDC materials, as observed using ionic liquid gating technology. Furthermore, the discovered spin-splitting at the Fermi level could offer crucial experimental validation for theoretical models of Ising-type superconductivity in these materials.