Density-Dependence of Surface Transport in Tellurium-Enriched Nanograined Bulk Bi2Te3

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Sepideh Izadi - , Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Chair of Metallic Materials and Metal Physics, Bielefeld University, Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Ahana Bhattacharya - , University of Duisburg-Essen (Author)
  • Sarah Salloum - , University of Duisburg-Essen (Author)
  • Jeong Woo Han - , University of Duisburg-Essen (Author)
  • Lauritz Schnatmann - , Bielefeld University (Author)
  • Ulrike Wolff - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Nicolas Perez - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Georg Bendt - , University of Duisburg-Essen (Author)
  • Inga Ennen - , Bielefeld University (Author)
  • Andreas Hütten - , Bielefeld University (Author)
  • Kornelius Nielsch - , Chair of Metallic Materials and Metal Physics, Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Stephan Schulz - , University of Duisburg-Essen (Author)
  • Martin Mittendorff - , University of Duisburg-Essen (Author)
  • Gabi Schierning - , Bielefeld University (Author)

Abstract

Three-dimensional topological insulators (3D TI) exhibit conventional parabolic bulk bands and protected Dirac surface states. A thorough investigation of the different transport channels provided by the bulk and surface carriers using macroscopic samples may provide a path toward accessing superior surface transport properties. Bi2Te3 materials make promising 3D TI models; however, due to their complicated defect chemistry, these materials have a high number of charge carriers in the bulk that dominate the transport, even as nanograined structures. To partially control the bulk charge carrier density, herein the synthesis of Te-enriched Bi2Te3 nanoparticles is reported. The resulting nanoparticles are compacted into nanograined pellets of varying porosity to tailor the surface-to-volume ratio, thereby emphasizing the surface transport channels. The nanograined pellets are characterized by a combination of resistivity, Hall- and magneto-conductance measurements together with (THz) time-domain reflectivity measurements. Using the Hikami-Larkin-Nagaoka (HLN) model, a characteristic coherence length of ≈200 nm is reported that is considerably larger than the diameter of the nanograins. The different contributions from the bulk and surface carriers are disentangled by THz spectroscopy, thus emphasizing the dominant role of the surface carriers. The results strongly suggest that the surface transport carriers have overcome the hindrance imposed by nanoparticle boundaries.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number2204850
JournalSmall
Volume19
Issue number11
Publication statusPublished - 15 Mar 2023
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 36642858

Keywords

Keywords

  • 3D topological insulators, Bi Te nanoparticles, magnetotransport, surfactant, THz spectroscopy