Synthesis of Topological Materials

by Dr Mario Novak (Zagreb University, Croatia)

Thursday 13 Jul 2023, 14:00 → 15:00 Europe/Zurich

SZ-WBGB/019

The synthesis of high-quality materials is a crucial step in revealing the intrinsic properties of these materials. In this talk, we will visit a series of topological materials and their synthesis as perceived through the eyes of a physicist. We will show how to tune the key material parameters that dictate sample quality, and the subsequent impact on our experimental outcomes. In several select cases, we will present various bulk synthesis methods employed, elucidate their principles, and offer insights into how to enhance the quality of samples.  The focus will be put on flux and chemical vapor transport bulk synthesis methods. The materials under consideration will cover the systems we intensively investigated in the last few years.    They range from Weyl semimetals (TaAs, TaIrTe₄), Dirac semimetals (TlBiSSe, PbSnSe), and nodal line semimetals (ZrSiS), to materials believed to be magnetic topological semimetals (EuCd₂As₂, EuIn₂As₂).