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Realization of Epitaxial Thin Films of the Topological Crystalline Insulator Sr3SnO

Cornell Affiliated Author(s)

Author

Y. Ma
A. Edgeton
H. Paik
B.D. Faeth
C.T. Parzyck
B. Pamuk
S.-L. Shang
Z.-K. Liu
K.M. Shen
D.G. Schlom
C.-B. Eom

Abstract

Topological materials are derived from the interplay between symmetry and topology. Advances in topological band theories have led to the prediction that the antiperovskite oxide Sr3SnO is a topological crystalline insulator, a new electronic phase of matter where the conductivity in its (001) crystallographic planes is protected by crystallographic point group symmetries. Realization of this material, however, is challenging. Guided by thermodynamic calculations, a deposition approach is designed and implemented to achieve the adsorption-controlled growth of epitaxial Sr3SnO single-crystal films by molecular-beam epitaxy (MBE). In situ transport and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy measurements reveal the metallic and electronic structure of the as-grown samples. Compared with conventional MBE, the used synthesis route results in superior sample quality and is readily adapted to other topological systems with antiperovskite structures. The successful realization of thin films of Sr3SnO opens opportunities to manipulate topological states by tuning symmetries via strain engineering and heterostructuring. © 2020 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim

Date Published

Journal

Advanced Materials

Volume

32

Issue

34

URL

https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85087801852&doi=10.1002%2fadma.202000809&partnerID=40&md5=79ed9b1616e296af37989004b9cf2b50

DOI

10.1002/adma.202000809

Group (Lab)

Kyle Shen Group

Funding Source

ACI-1548562
DE-AC02-05CH11231
DMR‐1629270
ECCS‐1542081
ACI‐1548562
DE‐AC02‐05CH11231
DMR‐1539918
FA9550‐15‐1‐0334
DMR‐1719875

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