Title :

Dirac cones, topological edge states, and nontrivial flat bands in two-dimensional semiconductors with a honeycomb nanogeometry

Author(s) :

Kalesaki, Efterpi [Auteur]
Université du Luxembourg = University of Luxembourg = Universität Luxemburg [uni.lu]
Institut d’Électronique, de Microélectronique et de Nanotechnologie - UMR 8520 [IEMN]
Delerue, Christophe [Auteur]
Institut d’Électronique, de Microélectronique et de Nanotechnologie - UMR 8520 [IEMN]
Morais Smith, Cristiane [Auteur]
University of Applied Sciences [Utrecht] [HU]
Beugeling, Wouter [Auteur]
Max-Planck-Institut für Physik komplexer Systeme [MPI-PKS]
Allan, Guy [Auteur]
Institut d’Électronique, de Microélectronique et de Nanotechnologie - UMR 8520 [IEMN]
Vanmaekelbergh, Daniel [Auteur]
Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science

Journal title :

Physical Review X

Pages :

0110101

Publisher :

American Physical Society

Publication date :

2014

ISSN :

2160-3308

English keyword(s) :

nanophysics
semiconductor physics
topological insulators

HAL domain(s) :

Physique [physics]/Matière Condensée [cond-mat]

English abstract : [en]

We study theoretically two-dimensional single-crystalline sheets of semiconductors that form a honeycomb lattice with a period below 10 nm. These systems could combine the usual semiconductor properties with Dirac bands. ...
Show more >We study theoretically two-dimensional single-crystalline sheets of semiconductors that form a honeycomb lattice with a period below 10 nm. These systems could combine the usual semiconductor properties with Dirac bands. Using atomistic tight-binding calculations, we show that both the atomic lattice and the overall geometry influence the band structure, revealing materials with unusual electronic properties. In rocksalt Pb chalcogenides, the expected Dirac-type features are clouded by a complex band structure. However, in the case of zinc-blende Cd-chalcogenide semiconductors, the honeycomb nanogeometry leads to rich band structures, including, in the conduction band, Dirac cones at two distinct energies and nontrivial flat bands and, in the valence band, topological edge states. These edge states are present in several electronic gaps opened in the valence band by the spin-orbit coupling and the quantum confinement in the honeycomb geometry. The lowest Dirac conduction band has S-orbital character and is equivalent to the π-π⋆ band of graphene but with renormalized couplings. The conduction bands higher in energy have no counterpart in graphene; they combine a Dirac cone and flat bands because of their P-orbital character. We show that the width of the Dirac bands varies between tens and hundreds of meV. These systems emerge as remarkable platforms for studying complex electronic phases starting from conventional semiconductors. Recent advancements in colloidal chemistry indicate that these materials can be synthesized from semiconductor nanocrystals.Show less >

Language :

Anglais

Popular science :

Non

ANR Project :

/

Collections :

• Institut d'Électronique, de Microélectronique et de Nanotechnologie (IEMN) - UMR 8520

Source :

Harvested from HAL