Influence of defects on electronic property of Sn1–xPbxTe/Pb heterostructure

YI Zhaoxia; YANG Hao; ZHENG Weiyan; XIE Bangjin; GAO Zehua; CHEN Weijiong; YI Hemian; LIU Xiaoxue; LIU Liang; GUAN Dandan; WANG Shiyong; ZHENG Hao; LIU Canhua; LI Yaoyi; JIA Jinfeng

doi:10.7498/aps.74.20251021

Abstract

SnTe-type topological crystalline insulators (TCIs) possess multiple Dirac-like topological surface states under the mirror-symmetry protection. Superconducting SnTe-type TCIs are predicted to form multiple Majorana zero modes (MZMs) in a single magnetic vortex. For the spatially isolated MZMs, there is only one MZM in a single vortex at surface. However, experimental demonstration of coupling the two isolated MZMs by changing wire length or intervortex distance is very challenging. For the multiple MZMs, two or more MZMs can coexist together in a single vortex. Thus, the novel property is expected to significantly reduce the difficulty in producing hybridization between MZMs. Recently, the experimental evidence for multiple MZMs has been observed in a single vortex of the superconducting SnTe/Pb heterostructure. However, SnTe is a heavily p-type semiconductor which is very difficult to induce the p-type to n-type transition via doping or alloying. The study on the Fermi-level tuning of SnTe-type TCIs is important for detecting and manipulating multiple MZMs. In this work, we report the influence of defects, such as film edge, grain boundary and dislocation, on the electronic property of Sn_1–xPb_xTe/Pb. The Sn_1–xPb_xTe films are prepared on the Pb (111) films grown on the Si (111) substrate by the molecular beam epitaxial technology. The structural and electronic properties of the Sn_1–xPb_xTe films are detected in situ by using low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy. The differential conductance tunneling spectra show that the minima of dI/dV spectra taken in the areas near the film edge, the grain boundary and the dislocation of Sn_1–xPb_xTe grown on Pb can be significantly changed to the energy very close to the Fermi level or even about –0.2 eV below the Fermi level, whereas the minima of dI/dV spectra taken in the areas far away from the defects are always at about 0.2 eV above the Fermi level. It indicates that these quasi one-dimensional defects, rather than Pb alloying, play an important role in modifying electronic property of the Sn_1–xPb_xTe/Pb heterostructure. Moreover, the Pb alloying will suppress the formation of zero-energy peak in the vortex. These results are expected to develop the new methods that do not require doping or alloying for the Fermi-level tuning of the SnTe-type topological superconducting devices.

Keywords:

Authors and contacts

Corresponding author: LI Yaoyi, yaoyili@sjtu.edu.cn

Funds: Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 12474156, 12488101, 12474121, 92365302, 22325203, 52102336), the Innovation Program for Quantum Science and Technology (Grant No. 2021ZD0302500), and the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality, China (Grant Nos. 2019SHZDZX01, 24LZ1401000).

FullText HTML

References

[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[10]
[11]
[12]
[13]
[14]
[15]
[16]
[17]
[18]
[19]
[20]
[21]
[22]
[23]
[24]
[25]
[26]
[27]
[28]
[29]
[30]
[31]
[32]
[33]
[34]
[35]
[36]
[37]
[38]
[39]
[40]
[41]
[42]
[43]

Cited By

DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

map

[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[10]
[11]
[12]
[13]
[14]
[15]
[16]
[17]
[18]
[19]
[20]
[21]
[22]
[23]
[24]
[25]
[26]
[27]
[28]
[29]
[30]
[31]
[32]
[33]
[34]
[35]
[36]
[37]
[38]
[39]
[40]
[41]
[42]
[43]

[1]	XIE Zhipeng, ZHANG Da, LIANG Feng. Applications and prospects of non-thermal plasma in defect engineering of energy materials. Acta Physica Sinica, 2025, 74(23): 235211. doi: 10.7498/aps.74.20251185
[2]	Tang Hai-Tao, Mi Zhuang, Wang Wen-Yu, Tang Xiang-Qian, Ye Xia, Shan Xin-Yan, Lu Xing-Hua. Low-noise preamplifier for scanning tunneling microscope. Acta Physica Sinica, 2024, 73(13): 130702. doi: 10.7498/aps.73.20240560
[3]	He An, Xue Cun. Tunable reversal rectification in $T_{\rm{c}}$-gradient superconducting film by slit. Acta Physica Sinica, 2022, 71(2): 027401. doi: 10.7498/aps.71.20211157
[4]	Li Yuan, Deng Han-Bin, Wang Cui-Xiang, Li Shuai-Shuai, Liu Li-Min, Zhu Chang-Jiang, Jia Ke, Sun Ying-Kai, Du Xin, Yu Xin, Guan Tong, Wu Rui, Zhang Shu-Yuan, Shi You-Guo, Mao Han-Qing. Surface and electronic structure of antiferromagnetic axion insulator candidate EuIn₂As₂. Acta Physica Sinica, 2021, 70(18): 186801. doi: 10.7498/aps.70.20210783
[5]	Li Xiang-Cao, Liu Bao-An, Li Meng, Yan Chun-Yan, Ren Jie, Liu Chang, Ju Xin. Photoluminescence spectrum study of defects of potassium dihydrogen phosphate crystals irradiated by different laser fluences. Acta Physica Sinica, 2020, 69(17): 174208. doi: 10.7498/aps.69.20200482
[6]	Zhang Zhi-Mo, Zhang Wen-Hao, Fu Ying-Shuang. Scanning tunneling microscopy study on two-dimensional topological insulators. Acta Physica Sinica, 2019, 68(22): 226801. doi: 10.7498/aps.68.20191631
[7]	Gu Qiang-Qiang, Wan Si-Yuan, Yang Huan, Wen Hai-Hu. Studies of scanning tunneling spectroscopy on iron-based superconductors. Acta Physica Sinica, 2018, 67(20): 207401. doi: 10.7498/aps.67.20181818
[8]	Xu Dan, Yin Jun, Sun Hao-Hua, Wang Guan-Yong, Qian Dong, Guan Dan-Dan, Li Yao-Yi, Guo Wan-Lin, Liu Can-Hua, Jia Jin-Feng. Scanning tunneling microscopy study of h-BN thin films grown on Cu foils. Acta Physica Sinica, 2016, 65(11): 116801. doi: 10.7498/aps.65.116801
[9]	Pang Zong-Qiang, Zhang Yue, Rong Zhou, Jiang Bing, Liu Rui-Lan, Tang Chao. Adsorption and dissociation of water on oxygen pre-covered Cu (110) observed with scanning tunneling microscopy. Acta Physica Sinica, 2016, 65(22): 226801. doi: 10.7498/aps.65.226801
[10]	Liu Meng-Xi, Zhang Yan-Feng, Liu Zhong-Fan. Scanning tunneling microscopy study of in-plane graphene-hexagonal boron nitride heterostructures. Acta Physica Sinica, 2015, 64(7): 078101. doi: 10.7498/aps.64.078101
[11]	Yang Jing-Jing, Du Wen-Han. Scanning tunnelling microscope investigation of the TiSi2 nano-islands on Sr/Si(100) surface. Acta Physica Sinica, 2011, 60(3): 037301. doi: 10.7498/aps.60.037301
[12]	Huang Ren-Zhong, Liu Liu, Yang Wen-Jing. STM tip-induced atomic motion on the top of film supported by a metal substrate. Acta Physica Sinica, 2011, 60(11): 116803. doi: 10.7498/aps.60.116803
[13]	Zhang Hao, Zhao Jian-Lin, Zhang Xiao-Juan. Numerical analysis of two-dimensional magnetophotonic crystals with structural defects. Acta Physica Sinica, 2009, 58(5): 3532-3537. doi: 10.7498/aps.58.3532
[14]	Ge Si-Ping, Zhu Xing, Yang Wei-Sheng. The manipulation of Cu subsurface interstitial atoms with scanning tunneling microscope. Acta Physica Sinica, 2005, 54(2): 824-831. doi: 10.7498/aps.54.824
[15]	Sun Xian-Kai, Lin Bi-Xia, Zhu Jun-Jie, Zhang Yang, Fu Zhu-Xi. Studies on the strain and its effect on defects in heteroepitaxial ZnO films prepared by LP-OCVD method. Acta Physica Sinica, 2005, 54(6): 2899-2903. doi: 10.7498/aps.54.2899
[16]	Chen Yong-Jun, Zhao Ru-Guang, Yang Wei-Sheng. Scanning tunneling microscopy studies of alkane and alkanol adsorbed on graphite. Acta Physica Sinica, 2005, 54(1): 284-290. doi: 10.7498/aps.54.284
[17]	Yu Tian-Bao, Liu Nian-Hua. Propagation of optical pulses through one-dimensional photonic crystals with a dispersive and gain defect layer. Acta Physica Sinica, 2004, 53(9): 3049-3053. doi: 10.7498/aps.53.3049
[18]	WANG LEI, TANG JING-CHANG, WANG XUE-SEN. SCANNING TUNNELING MICROSCOPY STUDY OF Si GROWTH ON Si3N4/Si SURFACE. Acta Physica Sinica, 2001, 50(3): 517-522. doi: 10.7498/aps.50.517
[19]	WANG HAO, ZHAO XUE-YING, YANG WEI-SHENG. ADSORPTION OF ASPARTIC ACID ON Cu(001) STUDIED BY SCANNING TUNNELING MICROSCOPY. Acta Physica Sinica, 2000, 49(7): 1316-1320. doi: 10.7498/aps.49.1316
[20]	TANG XUE-FENG, GU MU, TONG HONG-YONG, LIANG LING, YAO MING-ZHEN, CHEN LING-YAN, LIAO JING-YING, SHEN BIN-FU, QU XIANG-DONG, YIN ZHI-WEN, XU WEI-XIN, WANG JING-C HENG. A STUDY ON La-DOPED PbWO4 SCINTILLATING CRYSTAL. Acta Physica Sinica, 2000, 49(10): 2007-2010. doi: 10.7498/aps.49.2007

Catalog

Vol. 74, Issue 20 - 2025-10-20

Metrics

Abstract views: 1323
PDF Downloads: 62
Cited By: 0

姓名
邮箱
手机号码
标题
留言内容
验证码

Search

Article

留言板

Abstract

Authors and contacts

Corresponding author: LI Yaoyi, yaoyili@sjtu.edu.cn

FullText HTML

References

Cited By

Catalog

Metrics

Authors

Referees

About Journal

About

Search

Article

留言板

Abstract

Authors and contacts

Corresponding author: LI Yaoyi, yaoyili@sjtu.edu.cn

FullText HTML

References

Cited By

Catalog

Metrics

Publishing process

Authors

Referees

About Journal

About