Structural and transport analysis of (BixSb1-x)2Te3 topological insulator thin films

ORAL

Abstract

Topological insulators are in the focus of research due to their unique characteristics. Their unusual metallic surface states allow the spin of electrons moving through them to be controlled and used for spintronics and even potentially quantum computing. Here we present a structural analysis of bismuth antimony telluride (BixSb1-x)2Te3 thin films grown using molecular beam epitaxy. The films were analyzed using the in-situ characterization technique reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED) as they were grown and afterward using ex-situ x-ray diffraction (XRD). The work focused on having a better analysis for understanding the crystal quality of (BixSb1-x)2Te3 films. With RHEED and XRD we obtained information about different aspects of the crystal structure and how they were correlated. Further, we made devices of these films and measured their transport properties allowing us to correlate their structural and electronic properties.

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Presenters

  • Ahmad Matar Abed

    Physics and Electronics, University of Puerto Rico at Humacao

Authors

  • Ahmad Matar Abed

    Physics and Electronics, University of Puerto Rico at Humacao

  • Timothy Pillsbury

    Department of Physics and Materials Research Institute, Pennsylvania State University, Materials Research Institute, Pennsylvania State University, Physics, Pennsylvania State University

  • Run Xiao

    Physics, Penn State University, Physics, The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Physics, Pennsylvania State University, Physics, Pennsylvania State University

  • Anthony Richardella

    Department of Physics and Materials Research Institute, Pennsylvania State University, Physics, Pennsylvania State University

  • Nitin Samarth

    Department of Physics and Materials Research Institute, Pennsylvania State University, Physics, Penn State University, Physics, The Pennsylvania State University, Pennsylvania State University, Department of Physics, Pennsylvania State University, Materials Research Institute, Pennsylvania State University, Department of Physics, The Pennsylvania State University, Physics, Pennsylvania State University