Modular Design with 2D Topological-Insulator Building Blocks: Optimized Synthesis and Crystal Growth and Crystal and Electronic Structures of BixTeI (x = 2, 3)

Zeugner A, Kaiser M, Schmidt P, Menshchikova TV, Rusinov IP, Markelov AV, Van Den Broek W, Chulkov EV, Doert T, Ruck M, Isaeva A (2017)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2017

Journal

Chemistry of Materials American Chemical Society

Book Volume: 29

Pages Range: 1321-1337

Journal Issue: 3

DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemmater.6b05038

Abstract

Structural engineering of topological bulk materials is systematically explored with regard to the incorporation of the buckled bismuth layer [Bi2], which is a 2D topological insulator per se, into the layered BiTeI host structure. The previously known bismuth telluride iodides, BiTeI and Bi2TeI, offer physical properties relevant for spintronics. Herewith a new cousin, Bi3TeI (sp.gr. R3m, a = 440.12(2) pm, c = 3223.1(2) pm), joins the ranks and expands this structural family. Bi3TeI = [Bi2][BiTeI] represents a stack with strictly alternating building blocks. Conditions for reproducible synthesis and crystal-growth of Bi2TeI and Bi3TeI are ascertained, thus yielding platelet-like crystals on the millimeter size scale and enabling direct measurements. The crystal structures of Bi2TeI and Bi3TeI are examined by X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy. DFT calculations predict metallic properties of Bi3TeI and an unconventional surface state residing on various surface terminations. This state emerges as a result of complex hybridization of atomic states due to their strong intermixing. Our study does not support the existence of new stacking variants BixTeI with x > 3; instead, it indicates a possible homogeneity range of Bi3TeI. The series BiTeI-Bi2TeI-Bi3TeI illustrates the influence of structural modifications on topological properties.

Involved external institutions

Technische Universität Dresden DE Germany (DE) Brandenburgische Technische Universität Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU) DE Germany (DE) National Research Tomsk State University RU Russian Federation (RU) SuperOx RU Russian Federation (RU) Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Zeugner, A., Kaiser, M., Schmidt, P., Menshchikova, T.V., Rusinov, I.P., Markelov, A.V.,... Isaeva, A. (2017). Modular Design with 2D Topological-Insulator Building Blocks: Optimized Synthesis and Crystal Growth and Crystal and Electronic Structures of BixTeI (x = 2, 3). Chemistry of Materials, 29(3), 1321-1337. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemmater.6b05038

MLA:

Zeugner, Alexander, et al. "Modular Design with 2D Topological-Insulator Building Blocks: Optimized Synthesis and Crystal Growth and Crystal and Electronic Structures of BixTeI (x = 2, 3)." Chemistry of Materials 29.3 (2017): 1321-1337.

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