Tailoring topological order and {\pi}-conjugation to engineer quasi-metallic polymers

Topological band theory provides a conceptual framework to predict or even engineer robust metallic states at the boundaries of topologically distinct phases. The bulk-boundary correspondence requires that a topological electronic phase transition between two insulators must proceed via closing of t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:arXiv.org 2019-11
Main Authors: Cirera, B, Sánchez-Grande, A, de la Torre, B, Santos, J, Edalatmanesh, S, Rodríguez-Sánchez, E, Lauwaet, K, Mallada-Faes, B, Zbořil, R, Miranda, R, Gröning, O, Jelínek, P, Martín, N, Écija, D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Band theory
Chemical synthesis
Conjugation
Energy gap
Engineers
Insulators
Phase transitions
Polymers
Topology
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Summary:Topological band theory provides a conceptual framework to predict or even engineer robust metallic states at the boundaries of topologically distinct phases. The bulk-boundary correspondence requires that a topological electronic phase transition between two insulators must proceed via closing of the electronic gap. Therefore, it can provide a conceptual solution to the instability of metallic phases in {\pi}-conjugated 1D polymers. In this work we predict and demonstrate that a clever design and on-surface synthesis of polymers consisting of 1D linearly bridged polyacene moieties, can position the resulting polymer near the topological transition from a trivial to a non-trivial quantum phase featuring a very narrow bandgap with in-gap zero-energy edge-states at the topologically non-trivial phase. We also reveal the fundamental connection between topological classes and electronic transformation of 1D {\pi}-conjugated polymers.
ISSN:2331-8422
DOI:10.48550/arxiv.1911.05514