Pressure-Densified New Rhombohedral Phase of Eusn2as2
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-7-2021
Publication Title
Physical Review B
Volume
104
Issue
22
Abstract
The magnetic topological insulator EuSn2As2 is known to crystallize in a Bi2Te3-type layered structure in rhombohedral symmetry at ambient conditions and undergo a structural phase transition toward a monoclinic β phase under increasing pressure. Here, we identify by ab initio calculations a new high-pressure rhombohedral structure (termed the γ phase) in R3¯m symmetry comprising Sn-As-As-Sn linear chains along the z axis via the formation of As-As bonds in the AsSn/SnAs bilayers with strong anisotropic lattice distortion along the [001] orientation. This pressure-densified new rhombohedral phase has a metallic A-type antiferromagnetic ground state and is energetically more favorable than the original rhombohedral structure and the monoclinic β phase above 11 GPa. Simulated x-ray diffraction patterns provide an excellent match to the previously unexplained distinct diffraction peak around 14.7∘ found in experiments for EuSn2As2 above 13 GPa. These findings offer key insights into a new type of high-pressure phase of layered magnetic topological insulators, laying a foundation for further exploration of this intriguing class of materials.
Controlled Subject
Topological insulators
Disciplines
Health and Medical Physics | Medical Biophysics
Repository Citation
Wang, J.,
Wang, C.,
Chen, C.
(2021).
Pressure-Densified New Rhombohedral Phase of Eusn2as2.
Physical Review B, 104(22),
http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.104.L220101