Search arXivSearch

arXiv · 1805.08489

Hourglass-like Nodal Net Semimetal in Ag2BiO3

Abstract

Based on first-principles calculation and analysis of crystal symmetries, we propose a kind of hourglass-like nodal net (HNN) semimetal in centrosymmetric Ag2BiO3 that is constructed by two hourglass-like nodal chains (HNCs) at mutually orthogonal planes in the extended Brillouin zone (BZ) when the weak spin-orbit coupling (SOC) mainly from the 6s orbital of Bi atoms is ignored. The joint point in the nodal net structure is a special double Dirac point located at the BZ corner. Different from previous HNN [Bzdusek et al., Nature 538, 75 (2016)] where the SOC and double groups nonsymmorphic symmetries are necessary, and also different from the accidental nodal net, this HNN structure is inevitably formed and guaranteed by spinless nonsymmorphic symmetries, and thus robust against any symmetry-remaining perturbations. The Fermi surface in Ag2BiO3 consisting of a torus-like electron pocket and a torus-like hole pocket may lead to unusual transport properties. A simple four-band tight-binding model is built to reproduce the HNN structure. For a semi-infinite Ag2BiO3 , the "drumhead" like surface states with nearly flat dispersions are demonstrated on (001) and (100) surfaces, respectively. If such weak SOC effect is taken into consideration, this HNN structure will be slightly broken, left a pair of hourglass-like Dirac points at the two-fold screw axis. This type of hourglass-like Dirac semimetal is symmetry-enforced and does not need band inversion anymore. Our discovery provides a new platform to study novel topological semimetal states from nonsymmorphic symmetries.

Explore related subjects

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Botao Fu, Dashuai Ma, Xiaotong Fan, Cheng-Cheng Liu, Yugui Yao. 2018-05-22. Hourglass-like Nodal Net Semimetal in Ag2BiO3. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.98.075146

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

Towards ultra-scaled nanoelectronics using the zipper material system $Bi_2O_2Se/Bi_2SeO_5$

Two-dimensional (2D) materials could overcome the scaling bottleneck of nanoelectronics by enabling atomically thin channels, superior electrostatic control, and reduced short-channel effects. However, progress is limited by the lack of semiconductor–insulator interfaces being simultaneously scalable, stable, and reliable. Conventional 2D interfaces are often low quality or require transferring dissimilar materials, limiting reproducibility and scalability. We show that the zipper heterostructure formed by the high-mobility 2D semiconductor Bi 2 O 2 Se and its native high- κ oxide Bi 2 SeO 5 addresses these challenges, providing an atomically sharp, chemically matched interface with excellent electrostatics and promising scaling potential. We further present the first comprehensive multiscale assessment of Bi 2 O 2 Se/Bi 2 SeO 5 transistors targeting thermal stability, reliability, and scalability by linking atomic-scale structure and defects to device-level behavior across four transistor generations (top-gated, fin, and two gate-all-around architectures). Benchmarking against IRDS-2035 targets indicates that Bi 2 O 2 Se/Bi 2 SeO 5 devices could deliver high drive current with low gate leakage under aggressive scaling, potentially surpassing the targets in the upper-bound region of the sensitivity analysis. Finally, we identify oxygen-related oxide defects as the dominant origin of hysteresis consistent with a beneficial role of encapsulation and oxygen-rich annealing. Together, our findings support the potential of this zipper material system as a technologically-credible and manufacturing-relevant platform for future nanoelectronics.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci

Influence of Heterogeneity on the Response of Architected Metamaterials

Architected metamaterials like foams and lattices exhibit complex responses governed by microstructural instabilities, localization, and phase-transition-like phenomena. Their behavior is further affected by heterogeneities inherent in their microstructure often caused through manufacturing processes. In this study we extend a gradient-enhanced, nonlocal continuum formulation to incorporate stochastic material heterogeneity through Gaussian random fields imposed on selected constitutive parameters. The framework enables independent control of both the amplitude and spatial correlation of material fluctuations while preserving thermodynamic consistency and regularization of localization. It also introduces a characteristic lengthscale ratio between the nonlocal and correlation lengthscales, that enables modeling at the limit of random or spatially correlated microstructures. Finite element simulations of confined compression and indentation show that heterogeneity fundamentally alters phase nucleation, localization morphology, and macroscopic response. Overall, the proposed framework provides a unified approach for linking stochastic material variability to instability-driven mechanics in architected metamaterials, enabling improved understanding of imperfection sensitivity, stability and design. It showcases how heterogeneity alone can influence characteristic features of the response, such as stability, slope of the plateau region, and elimination of the initial elastic regime.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci

Structural, electronic, and optical properties of hexagonal GeSn from density functional theory

Unlike cubic GeSn, which undergoes an indirect-to-direct bandgap transition only above a finite Sn concentration, lonsdaleite (2H) germanium is an intrinsic direct-gap semiconductor. We employ first-principles density functional theory to investigate the structural, electronic, and optical properties of 2H-Ge$_{1-x}$Sn$_{x}$ random alloys in the dilute Sn regime ($x \le 0.10$). Substitutional disorder is modeled using 48-atom special quasirandom structure (SQS) supercells, and the coherent effective band structure is recovered via spectral band unfolding. We show that the semiconducting alloy configurations retain a direct bandgap at the $Γ$ point, with a moderate, nearly linear reduction of the bandgap in the dilute regime that shifts the fundamental absorption edge toward the mid-infrared. As the gap approaches zero, its calculated value becomes increasingly sensitive to the atomic configuration and supercell size. Evaluation of the optical transition matrix elements shows that the polarization anisotropy characteristic of pristine 2H-Ge remains observable under dilute Sn alloying. Although alloy disorder relaxes the crystal selection rules, the band edge response remains dominated by light polarized perpendicular to the crystal $c$ axis, whereas the parallel component remains weaker. These results identify dilute hexagonal GeSn as a tunable direct-gap system with a strongly polarization-dependent optical response in the infrared.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci