Design and realization of topological Dirac fermions on a triangular lattice

Maximilian Bauernfeind, Jonas Erhardt, Philipp Eck, Pardeep K. Thakur, Judith Gabel, Tien-Lin Lee, Jörg Schäfer, Simon Moser, Domenico Di Sante, Ralph Claessen () and Giorgio Sangiovanni ()
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Maximilian Bauernfeind: Universität Würzburg
Jonas Erhardt: Universität Würzburg
Philipp Eck: Universität Würzburg
Pardeep K. Thakur: Harwell Science and Innovation Campus
Judith Gabel: Harwell Science and Innovation Campus
Tien-Lin Lee: Harwell Science and Innovation Campus
Jörg Schäfer: Universität Würzburg
Simon Moser: Universität Würzburg
Domenico Di Sante: Universität Würzburg
Ralph Claessen: Universität Würzburg
Giorgio Sangiovanni: Universität Würzburg

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Large-gap quantum spin Hall insulators are promising materials for room-temperature applications based on Dirac fermions. Key to engineer the topologically non-trivial band ordering and sizable band gaps is strong spin-orbit interaction. Following Kane and Mele’s original suggestion, one approach is to synthesize monolayers of heavy atoms with honeycomb coordination accommodated on templates with hexagonal symmetry. Yet, in the majority of cases, this recipe leads to triangular lattices, typically hosting metals or trivial insulators. Here, we conceive and realize “indenene”, a triangular monolayer of indium on SiC exhibiting non-trivial valley physics driven by local spin-orbit coupling, which prevails over inversion-symmetry breaking terms. By means of tunneling microscopy of the 2D bulk we identify the quantum spin Hall phase of this triangular lattice and unveil how a hidden honeycomb connectivity emerges from interference patterns in Bloch px ± ipy-derived wave functions.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25627-y

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