Topological Insulators

Müchler L, Yan B, Casper F, Chadov S, Felser C (2013)

Publication Type: Book chapter / Article in edited volumes

Publication year: 2013

Journal

Springer Series in Materials Science Springer Verlag

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH

Series: Springer Series in Materials Science

Book Volume: 182

Pages Range: 123-139

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-37537-8_6

Abstract

The recent discovery of a new class of materials, the so-called topological insulators [1–5]. has generated a great interest in the fields of condensed matter physics and materials science [1]. In principle, according to their band structure, compounds can be divided into metals and insulators. Recently a new class of the so-called topological states has emerged, the Quantum Spin Hall (QSH) state in two and three dimensions. The respective materials are called "topological insulators". The 3D topological insulators have a full insulating gap in the bulk, but a topological protected gapless surface or edge states on the boundary [6–8]. Additionally the 2D topological insulators (e.g. HgTe [9, 10], are metallic in the bulk, but can be designed as topological insulators in quantum well structures with a trivial semiconductors such as CdTe. A topological insulator can easily be identified by a few simple rules: the presents of a large spin orbit coupling, an odd number of band inversions between the conduction and the valence band by increasing the average nuclear charge, and a sign change of the symmetry of the molecular orbitals [11]. Similiar features are favorable for thermoelectric properties, thus topological insulators may be good thermoelectric materials and vice versa. Here we present a short introduction to topological insulators and give examples of compound classes where both topological insulators and good thermoelectric properties can be found.

Authors with CRIS profile

Claudia Felser

Involved external institutions

Max-Planck-Institut für Chemische Physik fester Stoffe (MPI CPfS) / Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids DE Germany (DE) Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz (JGU) DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Müchler, L., Yan, B., Casper, F., Chadov, S., & Felser, C. (2013). Topological Insulators. In (pp. 123-139). Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH.

MLA:

Müchler, Lukas, et al. "Topological Insulators." Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2013. 123-139.

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