Realization of a one-dimensional topological insulator in ultrathin germanene nanoribbons.

ABSTRACT: Realizing a one-dimensional (1D) topological insulator and identifying the lower-dimensional limit of two-dimensional (2D) behavior are crucial steps toward developing high-density quantum state networks, advancing topological quantum computing, and exploring dimensionality effects in topological materials. Although 2D topological insulators have been experimentally realized, their lower dimensional limit and 1D counterparts remain elusive. Here, we fabricated and characterized arrays of zigzag-terminated germanene nanoribbons, a 2D topological insulator with a large topological bulk gap. The electronic properties of these nanoribbons strongly depend on their width, with topological edge states persisting down to a critical width (∼2 nm), defining the limit of 2D topology. Below this thres

SUBMITTER: Klaassen DJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11871225 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature