Protection of surface states in topological nanoparticles
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Siroki, G
Haynes, PD
Lee, DKK
Giannini, V
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
opological insulators host protected electronic states at their surface. These states show little sensitivity to
disorder. For miniaturization one wants to exploit their robustness at the smallest sizes possible. This is also
beneficial for optical applications and catalysis, which favor large surface-to-volume ratios. However, it is not
known whether discrete states in particles share the protection of their continuous counterparts in large crystals.
Here we study the protection of the states hosted by topological insulator nanoparticles. Using both analytical
and tight-binding simulations, we show that the states benefit from the same level of protection as those on a
planar surface. The results hold for many shapes and sustain surface roughness which may be useful in photonics,
spectroscopy, and chemistry. They complement past studies of large crystals—at the other end of possible length
scales. The protection of the nanoparticles suggests that samples of all intermediate sizes also possess protected
states.
disorder. For miniaturization one wants to exploit their robustness at the smallest sizes possible. This is also
beneficial for optical applications and catalysis, which favor large surface-to-volume ratios. However, it is not
known whether discrete states in particles share the protection of their continuous counterparts in large crystals.
Here we study the protection of the states hosted by topological insulator nanoparticles. Using both analytical
and tight-binding simulations, we show that the states benefit from the same level of protection as those on a
planar surface. The results hold for many shapes and sustain surface roughness which may be useful in photonics,
spectroscopy, and chemistry. They complement past studies of large crystals—at the other end of possible length
scales. The protection of the nanoparticles suggests that samples of all intermediate sizes also possess protected
states.
Date Issued
2017-07-20
Date Acceptance
2016-11-18
Citation
Physical Review Materials, 2017, 1 (2)
ISSN
2475-9953
Publisher
American Physical Society
Journal / Book Title
Physical Review Materials
Volume
1
Issue
2
Copyright Statement
© 2017 American Physical Society
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
024201
Date Publish Online
2017-07-20