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Exploration of intrinsic magnetic topological insulators in multiple-MnTe-intercalated topological insulator Bi2Te3.
- Source :
- Applied Physics Letters; 5/27/2024, Vol. 124 Issue 22, p1-7, 7p
- Publication Year :
- 2024
-
Abstract
- The fabrication of MnBi<subscript>2</subscript>Te<subscript>4</subscript> family of materials has been demonstrated that intercalating magnetic MnTe layer into topological insulator Bi<subscript>2</subscript>Te<subscript>3</subscript> is an efficient way to explore magnetic topological insulator. A natural question is that if multiple MnTe layers can be intercalated into Bi<subscript>2</subscript>Te<subscript>3</subscript>, meanwhile if the topological properties are well preserved. Based on first-principles calculations, we first confirm that multiple MnTe layers can be inserted into Bi<subscript>2</subscript>Te<subscript>3</subscript> by forming antiferromagnetic Mn<subscript>n</subscript>Bi<subscript>2</subscript>Te<subscript>3+n</subscript> (n = 1–5) crystals, where each system is energetically stable and can be readily exfoliated down to a monolayer. Specifically, the structural phase transition from ABC to ABAC stacking happens when n ≥ 2. Further electronic band structure calculations and topological identification reveal that the magnetic Mn<subscript>n</subscript>Bi<subscript>2</subscript>Te<subscript>3+n</subscript> undergoes a topologically nontrivial to trivial phase transition when n > 2, which is attributed to that multiple MnTe layers destroy the topological property of Bi<subscript>2</subscript>Te<subscript>3</subscript>. In addition to applying compressed strain, the topological states can be restored by intercalating Bi<subscript>2</subscript>Te<subscript>3</subscript> layers by forming (MnTe)<subscript>n</subscript>(Bi<subscript>2</subscript>Te<subscript>3</subscript>)<subscript>m</subscript> heterostructures. Most strikingly, it is found that the topological properties of (MnTe)<subscript>n</subscript>(Bi<subscript>2</subscript>Te<subscript>3</subscript>)<subscript>m</subscript> are universally determined by the ratio of n/m, once n/m ≤ 2.8, the desired topological states are recovered. Our notable findings enrich the family of magnetic topological insulator, providing opportunities to explore more intriguing topological phenomena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00036951
- Volume :
- 124
- Issue :
- 22
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Applied Physics Letters
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 177609078
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0202271