Freestanding few-layer sheets of a dual topological insulator

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Abstract

The emergence of topological insulators (TIs) raised high expectations for their application in quantum computers and spintronics. Being bulk semiconductors, their nontrivial topology at the electronic bandgap enables dissipation-free charge and spin transport in protected metallic surface states. For application, crystalline thin films are requested in sufficient quantity. A suitable approach is the liquid phase exfoliation (LPE) of TI crystals that have layered structures. Bi2TeI is a weak 3D TI, which leads to protected edge states at the side facets of a crystal, as well as a topological crystalline insulator, which is responsible for protected states at the top and bottom faces. We developed an effective, scalable protocol for LPE of freestanding nanoflakes from Bi2TeI crystals. By heat treatment and sonication in isopropyl alcohol and poly(vinylpyrrolidone), crystalline Bi2TeI sheets with a thickness of ~50 nm were obtained and can therefore be considered for further processing toward microelectronic applications.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number22
Journalnpj 2D Materials and Applications
Volume5
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2021
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

Scopus 85101236982
RIS urn:4111E7121779C98A20CB7A18E872B652
ORCID /0000-0001-7523-9313/work/159171512
ORCID /0000-0002-2391-6025/work/159171887
Mendeley 74416f82-d908-3f18-ae73-c32c3b53c8f9

Keywords

Keywords

  • Dual Topological Insulator