Topological materials

Illustration of (MnBi2Te4)(Bi2Te3), a topological material in which magnetic layers (MnBi2Te4, bottom) and non-magnetic ones (Bi2Te3, top) alternate. — Illustration of (MnBi₂Te₄)(Bi₂Te₃), a topological material in which magnetic layers (MnBi₂Te₄, bottom) and non-magnetic ones (Bi₂Te₃, top) alternate.

© Dr. Sander Münster (Univ. of Jena)

Illustration of (MnBi₂Te₄)(Bi₂Te₃), a topological material in which magnetic layers (MnBi₂Te₄, bottom) and non-magnetic ones (Bi₂Te₃, top) alternate.

© Dr. Sander Münster (Univ. of Jena)

The study of topological materials is a major theme of the Topological Quantum Chemistry department at MPI CPfS, the Chemistry and Physics Departments at TU Dresden, the condensed matter physics department at St Andrews, and the group of Max Planck fellow Laurens Molenkamp at the University of Würzburg. Our research efforts include the study of well-established materials, which show intriguing phenomena arising from their non-trivial topological properties, and the search for new forms of topological matter. Specialities include Heusler compounds and layered bismuth-based compounds.