Observation of Coulomb gap in the quantum spin Hall candidate single-layer 1T’-WTe2

Ye-Heng Song, Zhen-Yu Jia, Dongqin Zhang, Xin-Yang Zhu, Zhi-Qiang Shi, Huaiqiang Wang, Li Zhu, Qian-Qian Yuan, Haijun Zhang, Ding-Yu Xing and Shao-Chun Li ()
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Ye-Heng Song: Nanjing University
Zhen-Yu Jia: Nanjing University
Dongqin Zhang: Nanjing University
Xin-Yang Zhu: Nanjing University
Zhi-Qiang Shi: Nanjing University
Huaiqiang Wang: Nanjing University
Li Zhu: Nanjing University
Qian-Qian Yuan: Nanjing University
Haijun Zhang: Nanjing University
Ding-Yu Xing: Nanjing University
Shao-Chun Li: Nanjing University

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-6

Abstract: Abstract The two-dimensional topological insulators host a full gap in the bulk band, induced by spin–orbit coupling (SOC) effect, together with the topologically protected gapless edge states. However, it is usually challenging to suppress the bulk conductance and thus to realize the quantum spin Hall (QSH) effect. In this study, we find a mechanism to effectively suppress the bulk conductance. By using the quasiparticle interference technique with scanning tunneling spectroscopy, we demonstrate that the QSH candidate single-layer 1T’-WTe2 has a semimetal bulk band structure with no full SOC-induced gap. Surprisingly, in this two-dimensional system, we find the electron–electron interactions open a Coulomb gap which is always pinned at the Fermi energy (EF). The opening of the Coulomb gap can efficiently diminish the bulk state at the EF and supports the observation of the quantized conduction of topological edge states.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06635-x

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