Towards layer-selective quantum spin hall channels in weak topological insulator Bi4Br2I2

Jingyuan Zhong, Ming Yang, Zhijian Shi, Yaqi Li, Dan Mu, Yundan Liu, Ningyan Cheng, Wenxuan Zhao, Weichang Hao, Jianfeng Wang (), Lexian Yang (), Jincheng Zhuang () and Yi Du ()
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Jingyuan Zhong: Beihang University, Haidian District
Ming Yang: Beihang University, Haidian District
Zhijian Shi: Beihang University, Haidian District
Yaqi Li: Beihang University, Haidian District
Dan Mu: Xiangtan University
Yundan Liu: Xiangtan University
Ningyan Cheng: Anhui University
Wenxuan Zhao: Tsinghua University
Weichang Hao: Beihang University, Haidian District
Jianfeng Wang: Beihang University, Haidian District
Lexian Yang: Tsinghua University
Jincheng Zhuang: Beihang University, Haidian District
Yi Du: Beihang University, Haidian District

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Weak topological insulators, constructed by stacking quantum spin Hall insulators with weak interlayer coupling, offer promising quantum electronic applications through topologically non-trivial edge channels. However, the currently available weak topological insulators are stacks of the same quantum spin Hall layer with translational symmetry in the out-of-plane direction—leading to the absence of the channel degree of freedom for edge states. Here, we study a candidate weak topological insulator, Bi4Br2I2, which is alternately stacked by three different quantum spin Hall insulators, each with tunable topologically non-trivial edge states. Our angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and first-principles calculations show that an energy gap opens at the crossing points of different Dirac cones correlated with different layers due to the interlayer interaction. This is essential to achieve the tunability of topological edge states as controlled by varying the chemical potential. Our work offers a perspective for the construction of tunable quantized conductance devices for future spintronic applications.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40735-7

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