The elusive quantum anomalous Hall effect in MnBi2Te4: a materials perspective

Abstract

Observation of the quantum anomalous Hall effect (QAHE) in MnBi${}_2$Te${}_4$ flakes is one of the most exciting results in the study of the intrinsic magnetic topological insulator MnBi${}_2$Te${}_4$ and related compounds. This fascinating result is yet to be reproduced two years after its first report. The quality of starting MnBi${}_2$Te${}_4$ single crystals is believed to be the key factor. An interesting and important question to address is what is the right quality to enable the QAHE. In this perspective, we present possible approaches to tuning the magnetic and topological properties of MnBi${}_2$Te${}_4$ by using lattice imperfections, strain, stacking sequence, and interactions between the substrate and flakes/films. It is of critical importance to eventually identify the factor(s) responsible for the realization of QAHE.

4 pages, 2 figures, submitted to ECS JSS focus issue honoring John Goodenough's 100th birthday

References in corpus (10)

• Antiferromagnetic topological insulators
• Crystal growth and magnetic structure of MnBi2Te4
• Intertwined Topological and Magnetic Orders in Atomically Thin Chern Insulator MnBi2Te4
• Tuning Magnetic Order in the van der Waals Metal Fe5GeTe2 by Cobalt Substitution
• Sample-dependent Dirac point gap in MnBi${}_2$Te${}_4$ and its response to the applied surface charge: a combined photoemission and ab initio study
• Electric control of a canted-antiferromagnetic Chern insulator
• Coexisting of Quantum Hall and Quantum Anomalous Hall phases in Disordered $\mathrm{MnB}{\mathrm{i}}_2\mathrm{T}{\mathrm{e}}_4$
• Growth, characterization and Chern insulator state in MnBi${}_2$Te${}_4$ via the chemical vapor transport method
• Systemic Consequences of Disorder in Magnetically Self-Organized Topological MnBi${}_2$Te${}_4/$(Bi${}_2$Te${}_3$)${}_n$ Superlattices
• Emergent magnetic states due to stacking and strain in the van der Waals magnetic trilayer CrI3

Cited by in corpus (9)

• Distinct magnetic gaps between antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic orders driven by surface defects in the topological magnet MnBi2Te4
• Stacking disorder and thermal transport properties of $\alpha$-RuCl${}_3$
• Fabrication-induced even-odd discrepancy of magnetotransport in few-layer MnBi${}_2$Te${}_4$
• Self-selecting vapor growth of transition metal halide single crystals
• Anomalous Second Harmonic Generation from Atomically Thin MnBi2Te4
• Role of Magnetic Defects and Defect-engineering of Magnetic Topological Insulators
• Momentum-inversion symmetry breaking on the Fermi surface of magnetic topological insulators
• Spin texture tunability in Mn${}_{1-x}$Ge${}_x$Bi${}_2$Te${}_4$ through varying Ge Concentration
• Defect-induced displacement of topological surface state in quantum magnet MnBi${}_2$Te${}_4$