Topological Insulators: Electronic Properties and Emerging Applications
Keywords:
Topological insulator, topological phases, Z₂ invariant, Dirac surface states, spin-momentum locking, quantum anomalous Hall, Majorana zero modes, spintronics, ARPES, transport.Abstract
Topological insulators (TIs) represent a novel class of quantum materials characterized by an insulating bulk and robust, metallic surface or edge states protected by band topology and time-reversal symmetry. Their electronic properties arise from strong spin–orbit coupling and band inversion, leading to Dirac-like surface states with spin–momentum locking and suppressed backscattering. Prototypical material systems such as Bi₂Se₃, Bi₂Te₃, Sb₂Te₃, and related alloys have enabled extensive experimental exploration of these phenomena through spectroscopic and transport techniques. Beyond fundamental interest, TIs offer promising routes for emerging applications, including low-power spintronic devices, topological superconducting platforms hosting Majorana bound states for quantum computation, and terahertz and photonic devices exploiting their unique optical and plasmonic responses. Despite this potential, key challenges remain, notably residual bulk conductivity, defect control, interface engineering, and large-scale materials integration. Continued advances in materials synthesis, heterostructure design, and device engineering are expected to be crucial for translating topological electronic properties into practical technologies.
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