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Article
Different Topological Quantum States in Ternary Zintl compounds: BaCaX (X = Si, Ge, Sn and Pb)
Ames Laboratory Accepted Manuscripts
  • Lin-Lin Wang, Ames Laboratory
  • Adam Kaminski, Iowa State University and Ames Laboratory
  • Paul C. Canfield, Iowa State University and Ames Laboratory
  • Duane D. Johnson, Iowa State University and Ames Laboratory
Publication Date
1-11-2018
Department
Ames Laboratory; Physics and Astronomy; Materials Science and Engineering; Chemical and Biological Engineering
OSTI ID+
1419932
Report Number
IS-J 9564
DOI
10.1021/acs.jpcc.7b11111
Journal Title
Journal of Physical Chemistry C
Abstract

Topological quantum states require stringent combination of crystal symmetry and spin–orbit coupling (SOC) strength. Here, we report that the ternary Zintl compound series BaCaX (X = Si, Ge, Sn and Pb, Group IV) in the same crystal structure having eight valence electrons per formula unit can host two different topological quantum phases, controlled by atomic size and SOC strength. BaCaSi is a nodal-line semimetal (NLSM) with band inversion protected by mirror symmetry and hosts a strong topological insulator (TI) state when SOC is turned on, thus, a NLSM-TI phase. Moving to larger atomic sizes and heavier atoms, BaCaGe and BaCaSn are normal insulators (NIs); then, with the strongest SOC in BaCaPb, a different band inversion is induced, giving a strong TI phase without the need of NLSM. Thus, we also predict two types of topological transitions in a phase diagram for BaCaX: (1) NLSM-TI to NI, then to TI by tuning atomic size and SOC strength via alloying, and (2) NI or TI to NLSM-TI via pressure.

DOE Contract Number(s)
AC02-07CH11358
Language
en
Publisher
Iowa State University Digital Repository, Ames IA (United States)
Citation Information
Lin-Lin Wang, Adam Kaminski, Paul C. Canfield and Duane D. Johnson. "Different Topological Quantum States in Ternary Zintl compounds: BaCaX (X = Si, Ge, Sn and Pb)" Vol. 122 Iss. 1 (2018) p. 705 - 713
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/duane_johnson/121/