Topological Phase Transition with Nanoscale Inhomogeneity in (Bi1–xInx)2Se3
Autor: | Wenhan Zhang, Weida Wu, Xueyun Wang, Jixia Dai, Mingxing Chen, Sang-Wook Cheong, Zhicheng Zhong |
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Rok vydání: | 2018 |
Předmět: |
Materials science
Band gap FOS: Physical sciences Bioengineering Insulator (electricity) 02 engineering and technology 01 natural sciences law.invention Condensed Matter - Strongly Correlated Electrons law 0103 physical sciences Nano Topological order General Materials Science 010306 general physics Spectroscopy Nanoscopic scale Strongly Correlated Electrons (cond-mat.str-el) Condensed matter physics Mechanical Engineering General Chemistry 021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology Condensed Matter Physics 3. Good health Topological insulator Condensed Matter::Strongly Correlated Electrons Scanning tunneling microscope 0210 nano-technology |
Zdroj: | Nano Letters. 18:2677-2682 |
ISSN: | 1530-6992 1530-6984 |
Popis: | Topological insulators are a class of band insulators with non-trivial topology, a result of band inversion due to the strong spin-orbit coupling. The transition between topological and normal insulator can be realized by tuning the spin-orbit coupling strength, and has been observed experimentally. However, the impact of chemical disorders on the topological phase transition was not addressed in previous studies. Herein, we report a systematic scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy and first-principles study of the topological phase transition in single crystals of In doped Bi$_2$Se$_3$. Surprisingly, no band gap closure was observed across the transition. Furthermore, our spectroscopic-imaging results reveal that In defects are extremely effective "suppressors" of the band inversion, which leads to microscopic phase separation of topological-insulator-like and normal-insulator-like nano regions across the "transition". The observed topological electronic inhomogeneity demonstrates the significant impact of chemical disorders in topological materials, shedding new light on the fundamental understanding of topological phase transition. Comment: 16 pages, 5 figures |
Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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