Topological Insulators from a Chemist’s Perspective

• DOI: 10.1002/anie.201202480
• Publication Date: 2012-06-08T11:46:18Z
• Authors: Lukas Müchler; Haijun Zhang; Stanislav Chadov; Binghai Yan; Frederick Casper; Jürgen Kübler; Shou‐Cheng Zhang; Claudia Felser
• Keywords: Topological insulator; Spin–orbit interaction

Heavy stuff: Topological insulators are formed of heavy atoms and host special surface or edge states. The electronic structure is characterized by a Dirac cone within bulk band gap (see picture) that generated strong spin-orbit coupling. A chemist's perspective in terms bonds, bands, symmetry, nuclear charge provided.