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Flat bands that do not merely arise from weak interactions can produce exotic physical properties, such as superconductivity or correlated many-body effects. The quantum metric can differentiate whether flat bands will result in correlated physics or are merely dangling bonds. A potential avenue for achieving correlated flat bands involves leveraging geometrical constraints within specific lattice structures, such as the kagome lattice; however, materials are often more complex. In these cases, quantum geometry becomes a powerful indicator of the nature of bands with small dispersions. We present a simple, soft-chemical processing route to access a flat band with an extended quantum metric below the Fermi level. By oxidizing Ni-kagome material Cs₂Ni₃S₄to CsNi₃S₄, we see a two orders of magnitude drop in the room temperature resistance. However, CsNi₃S₄is still insulating, with no evidence of a phase transition. Using experimental data, density functional theory calculations, and symmetry analysis, our results suggest the emergence of a correlated insulating state of unknown origin. 

Phyllobilins – important natural products derived from chlorophylls – contain a characteristic conjugation in the southern rim, which is mimicked here in a synthetic analogue. 

Abstract Two-dimensional materials have unusual properties and promise applications in nanoelectronics, spintronics, photonics, (electro)catalysis, separations, and elsewhere. Most are inorganic and their properties are difficult to tune. Here we report the preparation of Zn porphene, a member of the previously only hypothetical organic metalloporphene family. Similar to graphene, these also are fully conjugated two-dimensional polymers, but are composed of fused metalloporphyrin rings. Zn porphene is synthesized on water surface by two-dimensional oxidative polymerization of a Langmuir layer of Zn porphyrin with K₂IrCl₆, reminiscent of known one-dimensional polymerization of pyrroles. It is transferable to other substrates and bridges μm-sized pits. Contrary to previous theoretical predictions of metallic conductivity, it is a p-type semiconductor due to a predicted Peierls distortion of its unit cell from square to rectangular, analogous to the appearance of bond-length alternation in antiaromatic molecules. The observed reversible insertion of various metal ions, possibly carrying a fifth or sixth ligand, promises tunability and even patterning of circuits on an atomic canvas without removing any π centers from conjugation. 

Colossal negative magnetoresistance is a well-known phenomenon, notably observed in hole-doped ferromagnetic manganites. It remains a major research topic due to its potential in technological applications. In contrast, topological semimetals show large but positive magnetoresistance, originated from the high-mobility charge carriers. Here, we show that in the highly electron-doped region, the Dirac semimetal CeSbTe demonstrates similar properties as the manganites. CeSb_0.11Te_1.90hosts multiple charge density wave modulation vectors and has a complex magnetic phase diagram. We confirm that this compound is an antiferromagnetic Dirac semimetal. Despite having a metallic Fermi surface, the electronic transport properties are semiconductor-like and deviate from known theoretical models. An external magnetic field induces a semiconductor metal–like transition, which results in a colossal negative magnetoresistance. Moreover, signatures of the coupling between the charge density wave and a spin modulation are observed in resistivity. This spin modulation also produces a giant anomalous Hall response.