(b) Electronic band structure with spin orbit interaction. The color of the band lines represents <Sy> (spin). The chemical potential is set at E=0eV (orange dashed line), where the chain is a trivial insulator (Z2=0). Hole doping (orange solid line) modifies the chain into a topological mirror insulator (Z2=1).
Scientific Achievement
Discovery of a heretofore unknown van der Waals (vdW) bonded segmented linear chain, consisting of Hf2Te9 blocks.
Significance and Impact
VdW bonded segmented linear chain transition metal chalcogenide materials could open up new opportunities in low-dimensional, gate-tunable, magnetic, and topological crystalline systems.
Research Details
- Atomic-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy show single segmented Hf2Te9 chains synthesized within the hollow cores of carbon nanotubes.
- First-principle density functional theory calculations reveal giant spin splitting and nontrivial topological phases of selected energy band states.
