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Achieving environmental stability in an atomically thin quantum spin Hall insulator via graphene intercalation

Author

Listed:
  • Cedric Schmitt

    (Universität Würzburg
    Universität Würzburg)

  • Jonas Erhardt

    (Universität Würzburg
    Universität Würzburg)

  • Philipp Eck

    (Universität Würzburg
    Universität Würzburg)

  • Matthias Schmitt

    (Universität Würzburg
    Diamond Light Source)

  • Kyungchan Lee

    (Universität Würzburg
    Universität Würzburg)

  • Philipp Keßler

    (Universität Würzburg
    Universität Würzburg)

  • Tim Wagner

    (Universität Würzburg
    Universität Würzburg)

  • Merit Spring

    (Universität Würzburg
    Universität Würzburg)

  • Bing Liu

    (Universität Würzburg
    Universität Würzburg)

  • Stefan Enzner

    (Universität Würzburg
    Universität Würzburg)

  • Martin Kamp

    (Universität Würzburg
    Physikalisches Institut and Röntgen Center for Complex Material Systems)

  • Vedran Jovic

    (Institute of Geological and Nuclear Science
    MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology)

  • Chris Jozwiak

    (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • Aaron Bostwick

    (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • Eli Rotenberg

    (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • Timur Kim

    (Diamond Light Source)

  • Cephise Cacho

    (Diamond Light Source)

  • Tien-Lin Lee

    (Diamond Light Source)

  • Giorgio Sangiovanni

    (Universität Würzburg
    Universität Würzburg)

  • Simon Moser

    (Universität Würzburg
    Universität Würzburg)

  • Ralph Claessen

    (Universität Würzburg
    Universität Würzburg)

Abstract

Atomic monolayers on semiconductor surfaces represent an emerging class of functional quantum materials in the two-dimensional limit — ranging from superconductors and Mott insulators to ferroelectrics and quantum spin Hall insulators. Indenene, a triangular monolayer of indium with a gap of ~ 120 meV is a quantum spin Hall insulator whose micron-scale epitaxial growth on SiC(0001) makes it technologically relevant. However, its suitability for room-temperature spintronics is challenged by the instability of its topological character in air. It is imperative to develop a strategy to protect the topological nature of indenene during ex situ processing and device fabrication. Here we show that intercalation of indenene into epitaxial graphene provides effective protection from the oxidising environment, while preserving an intact topological character. Our approach opens a rich realm of ex situ experimental opportunities, priming monolayer quantum spin Hall insulators for realistic device fabrication and access to topologically protected edge channels.

Suggested Citation

  • Cedric Schmitt & Jonas Erhardt & Philipp Eck & Matthias Schmitt & Kyungchan Lee & Philipp Keßler & Tim Wagner & Merit Spring & Bing Liu & Stefan Enzner & Martin Kamp & Vedran Jovic & Chris Jozwiak & A, 2024. "Achieving environmental stability in an atomically thin quantum spin Hall insulator via graphene intercalation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-7, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-45816-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45816-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Maximilian Bauernfeind & Jonas Erhardt & Philipp Eck & Pardeep K. Thakur & Judith Gabel & Tien-Lin Lee & Jörg Schäfer & Simon Moser & Domenico Di Sante & Ralph Claessen & Giorgio Sangiovanni, 2021. "Design and realization of topological Dirac fermions on a triangular lattice," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-8, December.
    2. Stiven Forti & Stefan Link & Alexander Stöhr & Yuran Niu & Alexei A. Zakharov & Camilla Coletti & Ulrich Starke, 2020. "Semiconductor to metal transition in two-dimensional gold and its van der Waals heterostack with graphene," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-7, December.
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