Observation of topological states residing at step edges of WTe2

Lang Peng, Yuan Yuan, Gang Li (), Xing Yang, Jing-Jing Xian, Chang-Jiang Yi, You-Guo Shi and Ying-Shuang Fu ()
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Lang Peng: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Yuan Yuan: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Gang Li: ShanghaiTech University
Xing Yang: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Jing-Jing Xian: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Chang-Jiang Yi: Chinese Academy of Sciences
You-Guo Shi: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Ying-Shuang Fu: Huazhong University of Science and Technology

Nature Communications, 2017, vol. 8, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Topological states emerge at the boundary of solids as a consequence of the nontrivial topology of the bulk. Recently, theory predicts a topological edge state on single layer transition metal dichalcogenides with 1T’ structure. However, its existence still lacks experimental proof. Here, we report the direct observations of the topological states at the step edge of WTe2 by spectroscopic-imaging scanning tunneling microscopy. A one-dimensional electronic state residing at the step edge of WTe2 is observed, which exhibits remarkable robustness against edge imperfections. First principles calculations rigorously verify the edge state has a topological origin, and its topological nature is unaffected by the presence of the substrate. Our study supports the existence of topological edge states in 1T’-WTe2, which may envision in-depth study of its topological physics and device applications.

Date: 2017
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-00745-8

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