Topological insulator BSTS as a broadband switchable metamaterial
Topological insulator BSTS as a broadband switchable metamaterial
The development of metamaterials into a viable platform for nanophotonic applications, data processing circuits, sensors, etc. requires identification of new plasmonic materials to overcome the limitations of noble metals, in particular their high losses. Here we describe a class of topological insulator materials which support broadband plasmonic response and possess extremely appealing photonic properties ranging from mid-IR to UV. Bi1.5Sb0.5Te1.8Se1.2 (BSTS) is a bulk insulator with robust conducting surface states protected by time-reversal symmetry, due to the strong spin-orbit coupling. BSTS single crystals were synthesized by melting high-purity Bi, Sb, Te and Se powders at 950°C in an evacuated quartz tube. The temperature was then gradually decreased to room temperature over a span of three weeks. The resulting crystals were then cleaved along the (100) family of planes to a thickness of ~0.5 mm. BSTS dielectric constants were derived by ellipsometric measurements and appear to be in excellent agreement with first principle DFT calculations. Unlike common direct or indirect bandgap semiconductors, the anomalous dispersion region falls in the visible part of the spectrum, leading to negative values of the permittivity. This behavior of the optical response is attributed to a combination of bulk interband transitions and surface contribution of the topologically protected states. To prove metallic behavior of BSTS, we fabricated metamaterials and gratings on crystal flakes and registered strong plasmonic response from UV to NIR. The coexistence of plasmonic response of the topological surface with dielectric properties of the semiconducting bulk enables ultrafast (t>100 fs) and broadband (to mid-IR) photo-modulation of the optical response. These findings show the potential of topological insulators as a platform for high-frequency switchable plasmonic metamaterials.
Ou, Jun-Yu
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So, J.K.
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Adamo, Giorgio
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Wang, Zilong
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Yin, J.
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Vezzoli, S.
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Nalla, V.
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Wang, L.
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Soci, C.
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Zheludev, N.I.
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Ou, Jun-Yu
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So, J.K.
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Adamo, Giorgio
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Wang, Zilong
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Yin, J.
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Vezzoli, S.
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Nalla, V.
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Wang, L.
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Soci, C.
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Zheludev, N.I.
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Ou, Jun-Yu, So, J.K., Adamo, Giorgio, Wang, Zilong, Yin, J., Vezzoli, S., Nalla, V., Wang, L., Soci, C. and Zheludev, N.I.
(2014)
Topological insulator BSTS as a broadband switchable metamaterial.
MRS Fall Meeting, Boston, United States.
30 Nov - 05 Dec 2014.
Record type:
Conference or Workshop Item
(Paper)
Abstract
The development of metamaterials into a viable platform for nanophotonic applications, data processing circuits, sensors, etc. requires identification of new plasmonic materials to overcome the limitations of noble metals, in particular their high losses. Here we describe a class of topological insulator materials which support broadband plasmonic response and possess extremely appealing photonic properties ranging from mid-IR to UV. Bi1.5Sb0.5Te1.8Se1.2 (BSTS) is a bulk insulator with robust conducting surface states protected by time-reversal symmetry, due to the strong spin-orbit coupling. BSTS single crystals were synthesized by melting high-purity Bi, Sb, Te and Se powders at 950°C in an evacuated quartz tube. The temperature was then gradually decreased to room temperature over a span of three weeks. The resulting crystals were then cleaved along the (100) family of planes to a thickness of ~0.5 mm. BSTS dielectric constants were derived by ellipsometric measurements and appear to be in excellent agreement with first principle DFT calculations. Unlike common direct or indirect bandgap semiconductors, the anomalous dispersion region falls in the visible part of the spectrum, leading to negative values of the permittivity. This behavior of the optical response is attributed to a combination of bulk interband transitions and surface contribution of the topologically protected states. To prove metallic behavior of BSTS, we fabricated metamaterials and gratings on crystal flakes and registered strong plasmonic response from UV to NIR. The coexistence of plasmonic response of the topological surface with dielectric properties of the semiconducting bulk enables ultrafast (t>100 fs) and broadband (to mid-IR) photo-modulation of the optical response. These findings show the potential of topological insulators as a platform for high-frequency switchable plasmonic metamaterials.
More information
e-pub ahead of print date: 2014
Venue - Dates:
MRS Fall Meeting, Boston, United States, 2014-11-30 - 2014-12-05
Organisations:
Optoelectronics Research Centre
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 375862
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/375862
PURE UUID: 304db0ca-5f38-4be3-9566-1ea0e3ccf620
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Date deposited: 22 Apr 2015 10:45
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:39
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Contributors
Author:
Jun-Yu Ou
Author:
J.K. So
Author:
Giorgio Adamo
Author:
Zilong Wang
Author:
J. Yin
Author:
S. Vezzoli
Author:
V. Nalla
Author:
L. Wang
Author:
C. Soci
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