skip to main content
US FlagAn official website of the United States government
dot gov icon
Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
https lock icon
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( lock ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Title: From Metals to Semiconductors: Advancing MXY (M = Ti, Sn, Ir, X = Se, Te, Y = Se, Te) Compounds with Strain Engineering—A Computational Perspective
In this computational study, density functional theory (DFT) is employed to analyze the structural, electronic, elastic, and topological properties of ternary compounds MXY (M = Ti, Sn, Ir, X = Se, Te, Y = Se, Te). The effects of spin–orbit interaction and pressure‐induced strain are investigated to understand their influence on the stability, mechanical properties, and electronic behavior, paving the way for potential technological applications. The findings confirm that these compounds are inherently stable in nonmagnetic phases, with spin–orbit interaction critically influencing their energy–volume landscapes. The calculated lattice parameters, ratios of lattice constants, and bulk moduli closely align with existing data, confirming the reliability of our approach. Mechanical assessments reveal distinct behaviors: IrSe2exhibits the highest stiffness due to pronounced covalent bonding, contrasting with SnTe2's elastic anisotropy and SnSeTe's nearly isotropic properties. Electronically, most compounds show metallic characteristics, except SnSe2, which behaves as a semiconductor with an indirect, pressure‐sensitive energy bandgap. Topological analysis under varying hydrostatic pressures indicates band inversions in TiSe2, IrSe2, and SnSeTe, suggesting topological phase transitions absent in other compounds. This study enriches our understanding of these materials and refines the application of DFT in material design.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
2110603
PAR ID:
10640137
Author(s) / Creator(s):
 ;  ;  
Publisher / Repository:
Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Advanced Engineering Materials
Volume:
26
Issue:
22
ISSN:
1438-1656
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
More Like this
  1. Abstract The interface between 2D topological Dirac states and ans‐wave superconductor is expected to support Majorana‐bound states (MBS) that can be used for quantum computing applications. Realizing these novel states of matter and their applications requires control over superconductivity and spin‐orbit coupling to achieve spin‐momentum‐locked topological interface states (TIS) which are simultaneously superconducting. While signatures of MBS have been observed in the magnetic vortex cores of bulk FeTe0.55Se0.45, inhomogeneity and disorder from doping make these signatures unclear and inconsistent between vortices. Here superconductivity is reported in monolayer (ML) FeTe1–ySey(Fe(Te,Se)) grown on Bi2Te3by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). Spin and angle‐resolved photoemission spectroscopy (SARPES) directly resolve the interfacial spin and electronic structure of Fe(Te,Se)/Bi2Te3heterostructures. Fory = 0.25, the Fe(Te,Se) electronic structure is found to overlap with the Bi2Te3TIS and the desired spin‐momentum locking is not observed. In contrast, fory = 0.1, reduced inhomogeneity measured by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and a smaller Fe(Te,Se) Fermi surface with clear spin‐momentum locking in the topological states are found. Hence, it is demonstrated that the Fe(Te,Se)/Bi2Te3system is a highly tunable platform for realizing MBS where reduced doping can improve characteristics important for Majorana interrogation and potential applications. 
    more » « less
  2. Abstract This study investigates the structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of XBr2, XI2, and XBrI (X = Mn, Co) compounds using density functional theory, incorporating spin–orbit coupling and the GGA + U framework. Cohesive and formation energy calculations reveal that MnBr2is most stable in the ferromagnetic phase, while the other compounds favor antiferromagnetic ordering. The inclusion of the effective Coulomb screening potential (Ueff) enhances the localization of 3d orbitals, leading to increased magnetic moments. Electronic structure analyses show that most compounds transition to semiconducting behavior in the antiferromagnetic phase—except CoI2—while MnBr2, CoBr2, and CoI2exhibit half-metallicity in the ferrimagnetic phase. In the antiferromagnetic phase, MnBr2, MnI2, and MnBrI display topological Dirac-like points between theRand Γ points, suggesting the presence of massless fermions and enabling phenomena such as the quantum Hall effect and ultra-high carrier mobility. The computational results are consistent with available experimental data, highlighting the potential of Mn- and Co-based van der Waals compounds for spintronic and quantum applications. 
    more » « less
  3. Abstract Mechanical stacking of two dissimilar materials often has surprising consequences for heterostructure behavior. In particular, a 2D electron gas (2DEG) is formed in the heterostructure of the topological crystalline insulator Pb0.24Sn0.76Te and graphene due to contact of a polar with a nonpolar surface and the resulting changes in electronic structure needed to avoid polar catastrophe. The spintronic properties of this heterostructure with non‐local spin valve devices are studied. This study observes spin‐momentum locking at lower temperatures that transitions to regular spin channel transport only at ≈40 K. Hanle spin precession measurements show a spin relaxation time as high as 2.18 ns. Density functional theory calculations confirm that the spin‐momentum locking is due to a giant Rashba effect in the material and that the phase transition is a Lifshitz transition. The theoretically predicted Lifshitz transition is further evident in the phase transition‐like behavior in the Landé g‐factor and spin relaxation time. 
    more » « less
  4. A topological phase transition in high-temperature superconductor FeTe1−xSex, occurring at a critical range of Se concentration x, underlies their intrinsic topological superconductivity and emergence of Majorana states within vortices. However, how Se concentration and distribution determine the electronic states, particularly the presence or absence of Majorana states, in FeTe1−xSex remains unclear. In this study, we combine density functional theory calculations with pz–dxz/yz-based analysis and Wannier-based Hamiltonian analysis to systematically explore the electronic structures of diverse FeTe1−xSex compositions. Our investigation reveals a nonlinear variation of the spin–orbit coupling (SOC) gap between pz and dxz/yz bands in response to the Se concentration x, with the maximum gap occurring at x = 0.5. The pz–pz and dx2−y2–pz interactions are found to be critical for pd band inversion. Furthermore, the distribution of Se significantly modulates the SOC gap, thereby influencing the emergence of Majorana states within local vortices. 
    more » « less
  5. Abstract Covalent 2D magnets such as Cr2Te3, which feature self‐intercalated magnetic cations located between monolayers of transition‐metal dichalcogenide material, offer a unique platform for controlling magnetic order and spin texture, enabling new potential applications for spintronic devices. Here, it is demonstrated that the unconventional anomalous Hall effect (AHE) in Cr2Te3, characterized by additional humps and dips near the coercive field in AHE hysteresis, originates from an intrinsic mechanism dictated by the self‐intercalation. This mechanism is distinctly different from previously proposed mechanisms such as topological Hall effect, or two‐channel AHE arising from spatial inhomogeneities. Crucially, multiple Weyl‐like nodes emerge in the electronic band structure due to strong spin‐orbit coupling, whose positions relative to the Fermi level is sensitively modulated by the canting angles of the self‐intercalated Cr cations. These nodes contribute strongly to the Berry curvature and AHE conductivity. This component competes with the contribution from bands that are less affected by the self‐intercalation, resulting in a sign change in AHE with temperature and the emergence of additional humps and dips. The findings provide compelling evidence for the intrinsic origin of the unconventional AHE in Cr2Te3 and further establish self‐intercalation as a control knob for engineering AHE in complex magnets. 
    more » « less