Evidence for a Strong Topological Insulator Phase in ZrTe5

G. Manzoni, L. Gragnaniello, G. Autès, T. Kuhn, A. Sterzi, F. Cilento, M. Zacchigna, V. Enenkel, I. Vobornik, L. Barba, F. Bisti, Ph. Bugnon, A. Magrez, V. N. Strocov, H. Berger, O. V. Yazyev, M. Fonin, F. Parmigiani, and A. Crepaldi
Phys. Rev. Lett. 117, 237601 – Published 30 November 2016
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Abstract

The complex electronic properties of ZrTe5 have recently stimulated in-depth investigations that assigned this material to either a topological insulator or a 3D Dirac semimetal phase. Here we report a comprehensive experimental and theoretical study of both electronic and structural properties of ZrTe5, revealing that the bulk material is a strong topological insulator (STI). By means of angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy, we identify at the top of the valence band both a surface and a bulk state. The dispersion of these bands is well captured by ab initio calculations for the STI case, for the specific interlayer distance measured in our x-ray diffraction study. Furthermore, these findings are supported by scanning tunneling spectroscopy revealing the metallic character of the sample surface, thus confirming the strong topological nature of ZrTe5.

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  • Received 15 April 2016

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.117.237601

© 2016 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Authors & Affiliations

G. Manzoni1, L. Gragnaniello2,*, G. Autès3,4, T. Kuhn2, A. Sterzi1, F. Cilento5, M. Zacchigna6, V. Enenkel2, I. Vobornik6, L. Barba7, F. Bisti8, Ph. Bugnon3, A. Magrez3, V. N. Strocov8, H. Berger3, O. V. Yazyev3,4, M. Fonin2, F. Parmigiani1,5,9, and A. Crepaldi3,5,†

  • 1Universitá degli Studi di Trieste, Via Alfonso Valerio 2, Trieste 34127, Italy
  • 2Department of Physics, University of Konstanz, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
  • 3Institute of Physics, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
  • 4National Centre for Computational Design and Discovery of Novel Materials MARVEL, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
  • 5Elettra—Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., Strada Statale 14, km 163.5, Trieste I-34149, Italy
  • 6Officina dei Materiali (IOM)-CNR, Laboratorio TASC, Area Science Park - Basovizza, I-34149 Trieste, Italy
  • 7Institute of Crystallography, CNR, Area Science Park, Strada Statale 14, km 163.5 Trieste I-34149, Italy
  • 8Swiss Light Source, Paul Scherrer Institut, CH-5232 Villigen, Switzerland
  • 9International Faculty, University of Köln, 50937 Köln, Germany

  • *luca.gragnaniello@uni-konstanz.de
  • alberto.crepaldi@epfl.ch

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Issue

Vol. 117, Iss. 23 — 2 December 2016

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