Nanowerk September 14, 2021
Using molecular beam techniques researchers in Germany succeeded in depositing a single layer of indium atoms as triangular lattice on a silicon carbide crystal as support resulting in indenene. The relevant electrons occupy free space in between the indium positions. Their charge fills the “negative” of the triangular indium lattice which is actually a honeycomb lattice. Unlike graphene, indenene needs not to be cooled down to ultra-low temperatures to manifest its properties as a topological insulator. The simple structure of indenene represents at the same time a challenge: as soon as the single layer of indium atoms comes in contact with air, the material loses its special properties. To address this the researchers are currently developing an atomic capping layer that can protect indenene from unwanted contamination during its synthesis. The design can improve the current technological status in the field of topological electronics…read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLE
Dirac fermions on a triangular lattice. Credit: Nature Communications volume 12, Article number: 5396 (2021)