Spin–orbit proximity effect and topological superconductivity in graphene/transition-metal dichalcogenide nanoribbons

Abstract

Spin–orbit coupling (SOC) plays a determinate role in spintronics and topological physics. Previous studies indicate that the SOC in graphene nanoribbon (GNR) can be enhanced by the proximity effect from two-dimensional transition-metal dichalcogenide (2D-TMD). However, the bulk inversion symmetry of GNR/2D-TMD restricts further increase of the proximity-induced SOC in GNR. In this view, we introduce a TMD nanoribbon (TMDNR) with finite width, and propose three methods to break the bulk inversion symmetry, i.e. defects in TMDNR, spatial interlayer edge coupling, and twist between GNR and TMDNR, which can further enhance the SOC in the GNR by roughly 30 times, 20 times and 150 times, respectively, depending on the relative energy between the Dirac point of GNR and the states of TMDNR. Furthermore, the significantly enhanced SOC can drive the GNR into a topological superconducting phase. By introducing the Zeeman splitting and s-wave superconductivity in the GNR, quasi one-dimensional topological superconductivity and Majorana zero modes (MZMs) can be achieved in the GNR. At last we propose a feasible experimental method to realize and manipulate MZMs in the GNR/TMDNR system.