Growth, characterization, and transport properties of ternary (Bi1-xSbx)2Te3 topological insulator layers

Abstract

Ternary (Bi1-xSbx)2Te3 films with an Sb content between 0 and 100% were deposited on a Si(111) substrate by means of molecular beam epitaxy. X-ray diffraction measurements confirm single crystal growth in all cases. The Sb content is determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Consistent values of the Sb content are obtained from Raman spectroscopy. Scanning Raman spectroscopy reveals that the (Bi1-xSbx)2Te3 layers with an intermediate Sb content show spatial composition inhomogeneities. The observed spectra broadening in angular-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) is also attributed to this phenomena. Upon increasing the Sb content from x=0 to 1 the ARPES measurements show a shift of the Fermi level from the conduction band to the valence band. This shift is also confirmed by corresponding magnetotransport measurements where the conductance changes from n- to p-type. In this transition region, an increase of the resistivity is found, indicating a location of the Fermi level within the band gap region. More detailed measurements in the transition region reveals that the transport takes place in two independent channels. By means of a gate electrode the transport can be changed from n- to p-type, thus allowing a tuning of the Fermi level within the topologically protected surface states.

arXiv comment11 pages, 10 figures, published in Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter

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• From classical to quantum regime of topological surface states via defect engineering
• Strong and Weak Three-Dimensional Topological Insulators Probed by Surface Science Methods
• Thickness dependence of electron-electron interactions in topological p-n junctions
• Carrier Density and Thickness Dependent Proximity Effect in Doped Topological Insulator -- Metallic Ferromagnet Bilayers
• Capacitance-voltage measurements of (Bi${}_{1-x}$Sb${}_x$)${}_2$Te${}_3$ field effect device
• Surface-dominated Conductivity of Few-layered Antimonene
• Controlling the magneto-transport properties of magnetic topological insulator thin films from Cr${}_x$(Bi${}_y$Sb${}_{1-y}$)${}_{2-x}$Te${}_3$ via molecular beam epitaxy
• Phase-coherent loops in selectively-grown topological insulator nanoribbons