Two-dimensional topological materials discovery by symmetry-indicator method

TL;DR

This paper introduces a symmetry-indicator based algorithm to efficiently discover 2D topological materials, identifying hundreds of promising candidates from large databases for experimental exploration.

Contribution

The work presents a novel, efficient method for discovering 2D topological materials using symmetry indicators, significantly expanding the pool of potential materials for experimental research.

Findings

Identified 205 topological insulators and 299 semimetals among 2D materials.

Highlighted MoS with a mirror Chern number of -4 as a promising candidate.

Provided a large database of topologically interesting 2D materials for future studies.

Abstract

Two-dimensional (2D) topological materials (TMs) have attracted tremendous attention due to the promise of revolutionary devices with non-dissipative electric or spin currents. Unfortunately, the scarcity of 2D TMs holds back the experimental realization of such devices. In this work, based on our recently developed, highly efficient TM discovery algorithm using symmetry indicators, we explore the possible 2D TMs in all non-magnetic compounds in four recently proposed materials databases for possible 2D materials. We identify hundreds of 2D TM candidates, including 205 topological (crystalline) insulators and 299 topological semimetals. In particular, we highlight MoS, with a mirror Chern number of -4, as a possible experimental platform for studying the interaction-induced modification to the topological classification of materials. Our results winnow out the topologically interesting 2D materials from these databases and provide a TM gene pool which for further experimental studies.