High-quality single crystals of Bi2Se3 grown via the Bridgeman technique.
Spin-polarized chiral surface states of a 3D topological insulator.
Exploration of a new class of “Dirac” materials that feature metallic surface states protected by time-reversal symmetry in a manner similar to graphene is of fundamental interest and relevance to future applications in spintronics and quantum computation. UMD-MRSEC researchers have progressed to achieving synthesis of high-quality crystals of Bi2Se3 with the highest electron mobility values and lowest carrier concentrations known to date.
Low temperature transport and optical transmission experiments have revealed a surprisingly strong scattering rate for surface conduction in this system, providing important information on the nature of the topological protection toted as the next frontier in exotic states of matter.
UMD Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (2005)
The Maryland MRSEC carries out nationally recognized fundamental research on surfaces and interfaces of materials with potential impact on the next generation of opto- and nano-electronic devices, and on complex oxides with potential applications in memory, switches, and sensors.