Semiconductor-compatible topological digital alloys

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that patterning Sn distribution in Ge can induce topological phases at lower Sn concentrations, enabling tunable infrared properties and potential applications in photonics.

Contribution

The study introduces a novel digital alloy approach to induce topological properties in GeSn alloys at lower Sn content than previously possible.

Findings

~10% Sn in GeSn DAs leads to triple-point semimetal phase.

Sn ordering causes band inversion and spatial separation of band edges.

Tunable direct bandgaps down to 2 meV covering the infrared range.

Abstract

Recently, GeSn alloys have attracted much interest for direct-gap infrared photonics and as potential topological materials which are compatible with the semiconductor industry. However, for photonics, the high-Sn content required leads to low detectivity, associated with poor material quality, and the (>35%) Sn required for topological properties have been out of reach experimentally. Here, we demonstrate that by patterning the Sn distribution within Ge, the electronic properties have a far greater tunability than is possible with the random alloy. For the GeSn \delta-digital alloy (DA) formed by confining Sn atoms in atomic layer(s) along the [111] direction of Ge, we show that ~10% Sn can lead to a triple-point semimetal. These findings are understood in terms of Sn ordering causing spatial separation of Sn and Ge band edges, leading to band inversion. This mechanism can also lead to a weak topological insulator, Weyl semimetal, and enables tunable direct bandgaps down to 2 meV, covering the entire infrared range. This DA induced topological properties are also identified in compound semiconductors, such as InAs1-xSbx, showing the general applicability of the DA design for realizing topological properties on conventional semiconductor platforms. Our findings not only point to a new class of currently unexplored topological systems accessible by epitaxy, but also establish the promise of low-Sn GeSn DAs for application as infrared laser diodes and photodetectors in Si photonic integrated circuits and infrared image sensors.