Skip to main content
Log in

Three-dimensional topological insulators: case of quaternary Heusler compounds

  • Published:
Rare Metals Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The feasibility of converting quaternary Heusler compounds XX’MZ (X=Sc, La; X’=Sc, Y; M=Ru, Fe; Z=Pb) into three-dimensional topological insulators was investigated by first-principle calculations. It is found that the topological insulating state can be achieved in these quaternary Heusler compounds by the proper strain engineering or the substitution of elements. Most of these compounds investigated in this paper have a negative formation energy, which implies that they are possible to be synthesized in reality.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Zhang H, Liu CX, Qi XL, Fang Z, Zhang SC. Topological insulators in Bi2Se3, Bi2Te3 and Sb2Te3 with a single Dirac cone on the surface. Nat Phys. 2009;5(6):438.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Hasan MZ, Kane CL. Colloquium: topological insulators. Rev Mod Phys. 2010;82(4):3045.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Moore JE. The birth of topological insulators. Nature. 2010;464(7286):194.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Liu Y, Ma Z, Zhao YF, Singh M, Wang J. Transport properties of topological insulators films and nanowires. Chin Phys B. 2013;22(6):067302.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Zeng Z, Morgan TA, Fan D, Li C, Hirono Y, Hu X, Zhao YF, Lee JS, Wang J, Wang ZM, Yu S, Hawkridge EH, Hawkridge ME, Benamara M, Salamo GJ. Molecular beam epitaxial growth of Bi2Te3 and Sb2Te3 topological insulators on GaAs (111) substrates: a potential route to fabricate topological insulator p–n junction. AIP Adv. 2013;3(7):072112.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Moore JE, Balents L. Topological invariants of time-reversal invariant band structures. Phys Rev B. 2007;75(12):121306.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Fu L, Kane CL, Mele EJ. Topological insulators in three dimensions. Phys Rev Lett. 2007;98(10):106803.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Roy R. Topological phases and the quantum spin Hall effect in three dimensions. Phys Rev B. 2009;79(19):195322.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Wang J, DaSilva AM, Chang CZ, He K, Jain JK, Samarth N, Ma XC, Xue QK, Chan MH. Evidence for electron–electron interaction in topological insulator thin films. Phys Rev B. 2011;83(24):245438.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Hsieh D, Xia Y, Wray L, Qian D, Pal A, Dil JH, Osterwalder J, Meier F, Bihkmayer G, Kan CL, Hor YS, Cava RJ, Hasan MZ. Observation of unconventional quantum spin textures in topological insulators. Science. 2009;323(5916):919.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Hsieh D, Qian D, Wray L, Xia Y, Hor YS, Cava RJ, Hasan MZ. A topological Dirac insulator in a quantum spin Hall phase. Nature. 2008;452(7190):970.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Xia Y, Qian D, Hsieh D, Wray L, Pal A, Lin H, Bansil A, Graner D, Hor YS, Cava RJ, Hasan MZ. Observation of a large-gap topological-insulator class with a single Dirac cone on the surface. Nat Phys. 2009;5(6):398.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Hsieh D, McIver JW, Torchinsky DH, Gardner DR, Lee YS, Gedik N. Nonlinear optical probe of tunable surface electrons on a topological insulator. Phys Rev Lett. 2011;106(5):057401.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Xia Y, Qian D, Wray L, Hsieh D, Chen GF, Luo JL, Wang NL, Hasan MZ. Fermi surface topology and low-lying quasiparticle dynamics of parent Fe1+XTe/Se superconductor. Phys Rev Lett. 2009;103(3):037002.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Sato T, Segawa K, Guo H, Sugawara K, Souma S, Takahashi T, Ando Y. Direct evidence for the Dirac-cone topological surface states in the ternary chalcogenide TlBiSe2. Phys Rev Lett. 2010;105(13):136802.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Zhang HJ, Chadov S, Müchler L, Yan B, Qi XL, Kübler J, Zhang SC, Felser C. Topological insulators in ternary compounds with a honeycomb lattice. Phys Rev Lett. 2011;106(15):156402.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Sun Y, Chen XQ, Franchini C, Li DZ, Yunoki S, Li YY, Frang Z. Strain-driven onset of nontrivial topological insulating states in Zintl Sr2X compounds (X=Pb, Sn). Phys Rev B. 2011;84(16):165127.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Zhang XM, Wang WH, Liu EK, Liu GD, Liu ZY, Wu GH. Influence of tetragonal distortion on the topological electronic structure of the half-Heusler compound LaPtBi from first principles. Appl Phys Lett. 2011;99(7):071901.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Feng WX, Yao YG. Three-dimensional topological insulators: a review on host materials. Sci China Phys Mech. 2012;55(12):2199.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Zhang XM, Liu EK, Liu ZY, Liu GD, Wu GH, Wang WH. Prediction of topological insulating behavior in inverse Heusler compounds from first principles. Comp Mater Sci. 2013;70:145.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Wang XT, Dai XF, Jia HY, Wang LY, Liu R, Li Y, Liu XC, Zhang XM, Wang WH, Wu GH, Liu GD. The band inversion and topological insulating state of Heusler alloys:X2RuPb(X=Lu, Y). Acta Phys Sin. 2014;63(2):023101.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Chadov S, Qi X, Kübler J, Fecher GH, Felser C, Zhang SC. Tunable multifunctional topological insulators in ternary Heusler compounds. Nat Mater. 2010;9(7):541.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. König M, Wiedmann S, Brüne C, Roth A, Buhmann H, Molenkamp LW, Qi XL, Zhang SC. Quantum spin Hall insulator state in HgTe quantum wells. Science. 2007;318(5851):766.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Dai X, Hughes TL, Qi XL, Fang Z, Zhang SC. Helical edge and surface states in HgTe quantum wells and bulk insulators. Phys Rev B. 2008;77(12):125319.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Wang XT, Dai XF, Jia HY, Wang LY, Zhang XM, Cui YT, Wang WH, Wu GH, Liu GD. Band inversion in Half Heusler-type Na1-xCsxAlGe(0 ≤ x ≤ 1). Acta Phys Sin. 2014;63(5):053103.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Qi XL, Zhang SC. The quantum spin Hall effect and topological insulators. Phys Today. 2010;63(1):33.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Zhu Z, Cheng Y, Schwingenschlögl U. Band inversion mechanism in topological insulators: a guideline for materials design. Phys Rev B. 2012;85(23):235401.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Singh DJ. Planewaves, Pseudopotentials and the LAPW Method. Boston: Kluwer Academic; 1994. 43.

  29. Tran F, Blaha P. Accurate band gaps of semiconductors and insulators with a semilocal exchange-correlation potential. Phys Rev Lett. 2009;102(22):226401.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Perdew JP, Burke K, Ernzerhof M. Generalized gradient approximation made simple. Phys Rev Lett. 1996;77(18):3865.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Zhu Z, Cheng Y, Schwingenschlögl U. Topological phase transition in layered GaS and GaSe. Phys Rev Lett. 2012;108(26):266805.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Qi XL, Zhang SC. Topological insulators and supercoductors. Rev Mod Phys. 2011;83(4):1057.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Gutsev GL, Andrews L, Bauschlicher CW Jr. Similarities and differences in the structure of 3d-metal monocarbides and monoxides. Theor Chem Acc. 2003;109(6):298.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Zhang XM, Liu GD, Du Y, Liu EK, Wu GH, Liu ZY. Investigation on regulating the topological electronic structure of the half-Heusler compound LaPtBi. Acta Phys Sin. 2012;61(12):123101.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51271071 and 11204064), the Ministry of Education Program for New Century Excellent Talents of China (No. NCET-10-0126), the 100 Excellent Innovative Talents Program of Hebei Province, and Hebei Province Higher Education Science and Technology Research Foundation for Youth Scholars (No. Q2012008).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Guo-Dong Liu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Wang, XT., Dai, XF., Jia, HY. et al. Three-dimensional topological insulators: case of quaternary Heusler compounds. Rare Met. 40, 1219–1223 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12598-014-0421-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12598-014-0421-1

Keywords

Navigation