Experimental Realization of the Topologically Nontrivial Phase in Monolayer Si2Te2
Abstract
The free-standing monolayer Si2Te2 (ML-Si2Te2) has been theoretically predicted to host a room-temperature quantum spin Hall phase. However, its experimental realization remains challenge due to the absence of a three-dimensional counterpart. Here, we demonstrate that HfTe2 serves as an ideal substrate for the epitaxial growth of ML-Si2Te2, preserving its topological phase. Scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy confirm a strain-free (1 × 1) lattice of ML-Si2Te2, along with a sizable band gap, which is well captured by first-principles calculations. Moreover, distinct edge states, independent of step geometry and exhibiting a broad spatial distribution, are observed at ML-Si2Te2 step edges, underscoring its topological nature.
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