Quasi free-standing silicene in a superlattice with hexagonal boron nitride

Thaneshwor P. Kaloni, Muhammad Tahir, Udo Schwingenschlögl

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

104 Scopus citations

Abstract

We study a superlattice of silicene and hexagonal boron nitride by first principles calculations and demonstrate that the interaction between the layers of the superlattice is very small. As a consequence, quasi free-standing silicene is realized in this superlattice. In particular, the Dirac cone of silicene is preserved. Due to the wide band gap of hexagonal boron nitride, the superlattice realizes the characteristic physical phenomena of free-standing silicene. In particular, we address by model calculations the combined effect of the intrinsic spin-orbit coupling and an external electric field, which induces a transition from a semimetal to a topological insulator and further to a band insulator.
Original languageEnglish (US)
JournalScientific Reports
Volume3
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 12 2013

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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