Topological Anderson Insulator in Cation-Disordered Cu<sub>2</sub>ZnSnS<sub>4</sub>
We present the first candidate for the realization of a disorder-induced Topological Anderson Insulator in a real material system. High-energy reactive mechanical alloying produces a polymorph of Cu<sub>2</sub>ZnSnS<sub>4</sub> with high cation disorder. Density functional th...
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MDPI AG
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Nanomaterials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/11/10/2595 |
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| author | Binayak Mukherjee Eleonora Isotta Carlo Fanciulli Narges Ataollahi Paolo Scardi |
| author_facet | Binayak Mukherjee Eleonora Isotta Carlo Fanciulli Narges Ataollahi Paolo Scardi |
| author_sort | Binayak Mukherjee |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We present the first candidate for the realization of a disorder-induced Topological Anderson Insulator in a real material system. High-energy reactive mechanical alloying produces a polymorph of Cu<sub>2</sub>ZnSnS<sub>4</sub> with high cation disorder. Density functional theory calculations show an inverted ordering of bands at the Brillouin zone center for this polymorph, which is in contrast to its ordered phase. Adiabatic continuity arguments establish that this disordered Cu<sub>2</sub>ZnSnS<sub>4</sub> can be connected to the closely related Cu<sub>2</sub>ZnSnSe<sub>4</sub>, which was previously predicted to be a 3D topological insulator, while band structure calculations with a slab geometry reveal the presence of robust surface states. This evidence makes a strong case in favor of a novel topological phase. As such, the study opens up a window to understanding and potentially exploiting topological behavior in a rich class of easily-synthesized multinary, disordered compounds. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:19:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f8957ac4a4fe4f05808f018086a09015 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-4991 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:19:42Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nanomaterials |
| spelling | doaj.art-f8957ac4a4fe4f05808f018086a090152023-11-22T19:23:44ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912021-10-011110259510.3390/nano11102595Topological Anderson Insulator in Cation-Disordered Cu<sub>2</sub>ZnSnS<sub>4</sub>Binayak Mukherjee0Eleonora Isotta1Carlo Fanciulli2Narges Ataollahi3Paolo Scardi4Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, Via Mesiano 77, 38123 Trento, ItalyDepartment of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, Via Mesiano 77, 38123 Trento, ItalyNational Research Council of Italy, Institute of Condensed Matter Chemistry and Technologies for Energy (CNR-ICMATE), Lecco Unit, Via Previati 1/E, 23900 Lecco, ItalyDepartment of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, Via Mesiano 77, 38123 Trento, ItalyDepartment of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, Via Mesiano 77, 38123 Trento, ItalyWe present the first candidate for the realization of a disorder-induced Topological Anderson Insulator in a real material system. High-energy reactive mechanical alloying produces a polymorph of Cu<sub>2</sub>ZnSnS<sub>4</sub> with high cation disorder. Density functional theory calculations show an inverted ordering of bands at the Brillouin zone center for this polymorph, which is in contrast to its ordered phase. Adiabatic continuity arguments establish that this disordered Cu<sub>2</sub>ZnSnS<sub>4</sub> can be connected to the closely related Cu<sub>2</sub>ZnSnSe<sub>4</sub>, which was previously predicted to be a 3D topological insulator, while band structure calculations with a slab geometry reveal the presence of robust surface states. This evidence makes a strong case in favor of a novel topological phase. As such, the study opens up a window to understanding and potentially exploiting topological behavior in a rich class of easily-synthesized multinary, disordered compounds.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/11/10/2595quaternary chalcogenidestopological insulatorsdisordered systemskesteritethermoelectrics |
| spellingShingle | Binayak Mukherjee Eleonora Isotta Carlo Fanciulli Narges Ataollahi Paolo Scardi Topological Anderson Insulator in Cation-Disordered Cu<sub>2</sub>ZnSnS<sub>4</sub> Nanomaterials quaternary chalcogenides topological insulators disordered systems kesterite thermoelectrics |
| title | Topological Anderson Insulator in Cation-Disordered Cu<sub>2</sub>ZnSnS<sub>4</sub> |
| title_full | Topological Anderson Insulator in Cation-Disordered Cu<sub>2</sub>ZnSnS<sub>4</sub> |
| title_fullStr | Topological Anderson Insulator in Cation-Disordered Cu<sub>2</sub>ZnSnS<sub>4</sub> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Topological Anderson Insulator in Cation-Disordered Cu<sub>2</sub>ZnSnS<sub>4</sub> |
| title_short | Topological Anderson Insulator in Cation-Disordered Cu<sub>2</sub>ZnSnS<sub>4</sub> |
| title_sort | topological anderson insulator in cation disordered cu sub 2 sub znsns sub 4 sub |
| topic | quaternary chalcogenides topological insulators disordered systems kesterite thermoelectrics |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/11/10/2595 |
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