1T-TaS2 as a quantum spin liquid

Abstract

1T-TaS2 is unique among transition metal dichalcogenides in that it is understood to be a correlation-driven insulator, where the unpaired electron in a 13-site cluster experiences enough correlation to form a Mott insulator. We argue, based on existing data, that this well-known material should be considered as a quantum spin liquid, either a fully gapped Z2 spin liquid or a Dirac spin liquid. We discuss the exotic states that emerge upon doping and propose further experimental probes.