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Millimetre-long transport of photogenerated carriers in topological insulators

Author

Listed:
  • Yasen Hou

    (University of California)

  • Rui Wang

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Rui Xiao

    (University of California)

  • Luke McClintock

    (University of California)

  • Henry Clark Travaglini

    (University of California)

  • John Paulus Francia

    (University of California)

  • Harry Fetsch

    (Harvey Mudd College)

  • Onur Erten

    (Arizona State University)

  • Sergey Y. Savrasov

    (University of California)

  • Baigeng Wang

    (Nanjing University)

  • Antonio Rossi
  • Inna Vishik

    (University of California)

  • Eli Rotenberg

    (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • Dong Yu

    (University of California)

Abstract

Excitons are spin integer particles that are predicted to condense into a coherent quantum state at sufficiently low temperature. Here by using photocurrent imaging we report experimental evidence of formation and efficient transport of non-equilibrium excitons in Bi2-xSbxSe3 nanoribbons. The photocurrent distributions are independent of electric field, indicating that photoexcited electrons and holes form excitons. Remarkably, these excitons can transport over hundreds of micrometers along the topological insulator (TI) nanoribbons before recombination at up to 40 K. The macroscopic transport distance, combined with short carrier lifetime obtained from transient photocurrent measurements, indicates an exciton diffusion coefficient at least 36 m2 s−1, which corresponds to a mobility of 6 × 104 m2 V−1 s−1 at 7 K and is four order of magnitude higher than the value reported for free carriers in TIs. The observation of highly dissipationless exciton transport implies the formation of superfluid-like exciton condensate at the surface of TIs.

Suggested Citation

  • Yasen Hou & Rui Wang & Rui Xiao & Luke McClintock & Henry Clark Travaglini & John Paulus Francia & Harry Fetsch & Onur Erten & Sergey Y. Savrasov & Baigeng Wang & Antonio Rossi & Inna Vishik & Eli Rot, 2019. "Millimetre-long transport of photogenerated carriers in topological insulators," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-13711-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-13711-3
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