Induced Robust Topological Order on an Ordinary Insulator Heterostructured with a Strong Topological Insulator

ORAL

Abstract

Three of V(Bi, Sb)-VI(Se, Te) binary compounds are predicted and confirmed to be strong topological insulators (STIs). The exception for Sb2Se3 to be an ordinary insulator (OI) is due to the weaker spin-orbit coupling. Here, we report that the rhombohedral phase of Sb2Se3 is successfully grown by molecular beam epitaxy on films of Bi2Se3 (an STI) and In2Se3 (an OI). Surface electronic structures of these heterostructures are investigated by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. In the OI/STI heterostructure, a Dirac cone topological surface state (TSS) is found to be induced on the Sb2Se3 layer up to 15 nm thick, in sharp contrast with the OI/OI heterostructure where no sign of TSS can be observed.

*The work described in this paper was supported in parts from a grant of the SRFDP and RGC ERG Joint Research Scheme of Hong Kong Research Grant Council (RGC) and the Ministry of Education of China (No. M-HKU709/12) and from a Collaborative Research Fund (HKU9/CRF/13G) sponsored by the RGC of Hong Kong Sp

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Presenters

  • Bin LI

    • Southern University of Science and Technology
    • The University of Hong Kong

Authors

  • Bin LI

    • Southern University of Science and Technology
    • The University of Hong Kong

  • Qiangsheng Lu

    • Southern University of Science and Technology

  • Shuigang Xu

    • The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

  • Xiangbin Cai

    • The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

  • YIPU XIA

    • Physics, The University of Hong Kong
    • The University of Hong Kong

  • Wingkin Ho

    • Physics, The University of Hong Kong
    • Department of Physics, The Univ of Hong Kong
    • The University of Hong Kong

  • Ning Wang

    • Physics, Hong Kong Univ of Sci & Tech
    • The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

  • Hailang Qin

    • Southern University of Science and Technology

  • Gan Wang

    • Southern University of Science and Technology
    • Physics, Southern University of Science and Technology

  • Chang Liu

    • Southern University of Science and Technology
    • Physics, Southern University of Science and Technology

  • MAOHAI XIE

    • Physics, The University of Hong Kong
    • Department of Physics, The Univ of Hong Kong
    • The University of Hong Kong
    • Department of Physics, The University of Hong Kong