Topological insulators and thermoelectric materials

TL;DR

This paper introduces topological insulators as a quantum state of matter with unique surface states and explores their potential as thermoelectric materials, highlighting classes of compounds with both properties.

Contribution

It provides an overview of topological insulators and thermoelectrics, and identifies compound classes exhibiting both topological and thermoelectric properties.

Findings

Topological insulators have gapless surface states within the bulk energy gap.

Certain compound classes exhibit both topological insulating and thermoelectric properties.

Both topological and thermoelectric properties can occur independently in materials.

Abstract

Topological insulators (TIs) are a new quantum state of matter which have gapless surface states inside the bulk energy gap. Starting with the discovery of two dimensional TIs, the HgTe-based quantum wells, many new topological materials have been theoretically predicted and experimentally observed. Currently known TI materials can possibly be classified into two families, the HgTe family and the Bi2Se family. The signatures found in the electronic structure of a TI also cause these materials to be excellent thermoelectric materials. On the other hand, excellent thermoelectric materials can be also topologically trivial. Here we present a short introduction to topological insulators and thermoelectrics, and give examples of compound classes were both good thermoelectric properties and topological insulators can be found.