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Chemical (in)stability of an interface between metals and Bi[sub]2Se[sub]3 topological insulator
Katja Ferfolja, Mattia Fanetti, Sandra Gardonio, Matjaž Valant, 2019, published scientific conference contribution abstract

Abstract: Our research is dedicated to a study of an interface between a Bi2Se3 topological insulator (TI) and various metals due to the essential need for providing a metal contact for devices. The main objective is to characterize structural and chemical properties at the interface, where the electronic properties of the TI can be affected. The structure of the interface and processes happening at it are investigated by microscopy (SEM, TEM, STM) and spectroscopy techniques (EDX, XPS). The research started with the noble metals: Ag, Au and Pt. A good stability was observed for Au and Pt, whereas Ag reacted with Bi2Se3 already at room temperature, producing Ag2Se and AgBiSe2 phase. Interface stability was also checked at high temperature and results showed that the Au coating undergoes a coalescence process starting from 100 °C whereas the interface with Pt does not show any change at least up to 350 °C. At present we are focused on the interface with Ti, a metal which is regularly used as an adhesive layer in electrical contacts. At low coverage (<30 nm) Ti forms an extremely flat film, smoother than Au, Ag or Pt. At higher coverage the film undergoes buckle delamination, likely induced by stress release. The observed morphology indicates that a chemical interaction leads to the growth of the initial smooth Ti epitaxial film. Se interdiffusion and formation of interfacial TixSey phase is envisaged, as suggested from preliminary TEM observations of the interface structure. The presented results show the importance of the processes happening at the interface, especially solid-state chemical reactions, which are often neglected in the study of systems with metal/TI interfaces. Such instability has to be taken into account since the produced phases can affect transport properties of the material, increase a contact resistance or affect functionality of devices.
Keywords: Bi2Se3, interface, topological insulator, chemical instability
Published in RUNG: 20.08.2021; Views: 2741; Downloads: 13
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3.
Structural, morphological and chemical properties of metal/topological insulator interfaces : dissertation
Katja Ferfolja, 2021, doctoral dissertation

Abstract: Topological insulators (TIs) represent a new state of matter that possess a different band structure than regular insulators or conductors. They are characterized with a band gap in the bulk and conductive topological states on the surface, which are spin polarized and robust toward contamination or deformation of the surface. Since the intriguing properties of the TIs are localized at the surface, it is important to obtain knowledge of the possible phenomena happening at the interface between TIs and other materials. This is especially true in the case of metals, due to the fact that such interfaces will be present in the majority of foreseen TI applications. The presented study combines microscopy and spectroscopy techniques for characterization of morphology, stability and chemical interaction at the interface between TI and metals deposited by means of physical vapor deposition. Our research is based on the interface of Bi2Se3 topological insulator with Ag, Ti and Pt – metals that can be encountered in devices or applications predicted to utilize the special properties of topological insulators. STM and SEM imaging of Ag/Bi2Se3 interface showed that Ag atoms arrange on the surface in the form of islands, whereas significantly bigger agglomerates are found at the surface steps. The interface was found to be unstable in time and resulted in the absorption of the metal into the crystal at room temperature. Evidences of a chemical reaction at the Ag/Bi2Se3 interface are presented, showing that new phases (Ag2Se, AgBiSe2 and metallic Bi) are formed. Deposition of Ti on Bi2Se3 resulted in different morphologies depending on the film thickness. At a very low coverage (<1 Å) islands are formed. However, the islands growth is hindered before the completion of a full layer due to the occurrence of a chemical reaction. No surface features could be detected by SEM for Ti coverage up to 20 nm. In contrary, when Ti thickness reached 40 nm, compressive stress triggered buckling of the deposited film. XPS analysis revealed that a redox solid-state reaction occurs at the Ti/Bi2Se3 interface at room temperature forming titanium selenides and metallic Bi. The reaction has significant kinetics even at cryogenic temperature of 130 K. Pt forms a homogenous film over the whole substrate surface, which is stable in time at room temperature. Although the interface of Pt with Bi2Se3 was found to be i less reactive compared to Ag and Ti, an interfacial phase formed upon annealing to ∼90 °C was detected by TEM cross section experiment. A model for prediction of interfacial reactions between a metal and Bi2Se3 based on the standard reduction potential of the metals and Gibbs free energy for a model reaction is presented. Based on these two values the reaction can be expected to result in the formation of binary and/or ternary selenides and Bi. Presented work shows on the importance of metal/topological insulator interfaces characterization taking into account the possibility of a chemical reaction with all of its consequences. Results should be considered for future theoretical and applicative studies involving such interfaces as well as for the possible engineering of 2D TI heterostructures.
Keywords: topological insulators, topological surface states, Bi2Se3, thin films, Ag, Ti, Pt, morphology, interfaces, solid-state reaction, metal selenides, reactivity, stability, electron microscopy, dissertations
Published in RUNG: 09.06.2021; Views: 5332; Downloads: 186
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4.
Electronic properties of phases in the quasi-binary Bi[sub]2Se[sub]3-Bi[sub]2S[sub]3 system
Zipporah Rini Benher, Sandra Gardonio, Mattia Fanetti, Paolo Moras, Asish K. Kundu, Chiara Bigi, Matjaž Valant, 2021, original scientific article

Abstract: We explored the properties of the quasi-binary Bi2Se3–Bi2S3 system over a wide compositional range. X-ray diffraction analysis demonstrates that rhombohedral crystals can be synthesized within the solid solution interval 0–22 mol% Bi2S3, while at 33 mol% Bi2S3 only orthorhombic crystals are obtained. Core level photoemission spectroscopy reveals the presence of Bi3+, Se2− and S2− species and the absence of metallic species, thus indicating that S incorporation into Bi2Se3 proceeds prevalently through the substitution of Se with S. Spin- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy shows that topological surface states develop on the surfaces of the Bi2Se3−ySy (y ≤0.66) rhombohedral crystals, in close analogy with the prototypical case of Bi2Se3, while the orthorhombic crystals with higher S content turn out to be trivial semiconductors. Our results connect unambiguously the phase diagram and electronic properties of the Bi2Se3–Bi2S3 system.
Keywords: topological insulator, quasi-binary Bi2Se3-Bi2S3 system, electronic properties
Published in RUNG: 29.03.2021; Views: 3127; Downloads: 0
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