Large spin-orbit coupling and helical spin textures in 2D heterostructure [Pb2BiS3][AuTe2]

L Fang; J Im; W DeGottardi; Y Jia; A Glatz; K A Matveev; W-K Kwok; G W Crabtree; M G Kanatzidis

doi:10.1038/srep35313

Large spin-orbit coupling and helical spin textures in 2D heterostructure [Pb₂BiS₃][AuTe₂]

Sci Rep. 2016 Oct 12:6:35313. doi: 10.1038/srep35313.

Authors

L Fang^{1

2}, J Im³, W DeGottardi¹, Y Jia⁴, A Glatz^{1

5}, K A Matveev¹, W-K Kwok¹, G W Crabtree¹, M G Kanatzidis^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, USA.
² Advanced Material Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon 305-600, Korea.
³ Chemistry Department, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.
⁴ NUFAB, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.
⁵ Department of Physics, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois 60115, USA.

Abstract

Two-dimensional heterostructures with strong spin-orbit coupling have direct relevance to topological quantum materials and potential applications in spin-orbitronics. In this work, we report on novel quantum phenomena in [Pb₂BiS₃][AuTe₂], a new 2D strong spin-orbit coupling heterostructure system. Transport measurements reveal the spin-related carrier scattering is at odds with the Abrikosov-Gorkov model due to strong spin-orbit coupling. This is consistent with our band structure calculations which reveal a large spin-orbit coupling gap of ε_so = 0.21 eV. The band structure is also characterized by helical-like spin textures which are mainly induced by strong spin-orbit coupling and the inversion symmetry breaking in the heterostructure system.

Publication types

Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't