Topological Insulator Superlattices via Spinodal Decomposition

ORAL

Abstract

Advanced thermodynamic and electronic structure concepts are combined to define a design strategy for topological insulator superlattices – an alternative to the costly and time-consuming experimental artificial growth methods [1]. Stabilizing self-assembled interfaces between iso-structural and iso-valent topological insulators is possible through spinodal decomposition. To investigate the composition range guaranteeing the topologically protected gapless metallic states, various thermodynamically driven boundaries are designed between constituent materials. The dimensions and topological nature of the metallic channels are tracked by following the spatial distribution of the charge density and spin-texture. The results validate the proof of concept for obtaining spontaneously forming two-dimensional topologically protected metallic states embedded in a three-dimensional insulating environment without any vacuum interfaces.

[1] D. Usanmaz, P. Nath, C. Toher, J. J. Plata, R. Friedrich, M. Fornari, M. Buongiorno Nardelli, and S. Curtarolo, Chem. Mater. 2018, 30, 2331−2340.

*The authors acknowledge support by DOD-ONR (N00014-13-1-0635, N00014-15-1-2863, N00014-16-1-2326). R. F and S.C. acknowledges the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation for financial support.

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Presenters

  • Demet Usanmaz

    • Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University
    • Center for Materials Genomics, Duke University

Authors

  • Demet Usanmaz

    • Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University
    • Center for Materials Genomics, Duke University

  • Pinku Nath

    • Center for Materials Genomics, Duke University

  • Cormac Toher

    • Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University
    • Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University
    • Center for Materials Genomics, Duke University
    • Duke University

  • Jose Javier Plata

    • Center for Materials Genomics, Duke University

  • Rico Friedrich

    • Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University
    • Center for Materials Genomics, Duke University

  • Marco Fornari

    • Department of Physics and Science of Advanced Materials Program, Central Michigan University
    • Dept. of Physics and Science of Advanced Materials Program, Central Michigan University
    • Department Physics and Science of Advanced Materials Program, Central Michigan University
    • Central Michigan University

  • Marco Buongiorno Nardelli

    • Department of Physics and Department of Chemistry, University of North Texas
    • Department of Physics, University of North Texas, Denton, TX
    • Department of Physics, University of North Texas
    • Physics, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA
    • University of North Texas
    • Univ. North Texas

  • Stefano Curtarolo

    • Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, Physics and Chemistry, Duke University
    • Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University
    • Materials Science and Engineering, Center for Materials Genomics, Duke University, Durham, NC
    • Center for Materials Genomics, Duke University
    • Duke University
    • Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University
    • Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, Physics and Chemistry, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA