Quantum spin Hall effect on germanene nanoroad embedded in a completely hydrogenated germanene

Abstract

We show that germanene nanoroads embedded in a completely hydrogenated germanene (germanane) exhibits a quantum spin Hall effect (QSHE). These nanoroads can be obtained experimentally by local hydrogen dissociation from germanane. Using first principle calculations we predict that germanene nanoroads with zigzag interfaces show dissipationless conducting channels with in-plane and out-of-plane spin textures.