Monolayer Topological Insulators: Silicene, Germanene, and Stanene

Abstract

We report the recent progress on the theoretical aspects of monolayer topological insulators including silicene, germanene and stanene, which are monolayer honeycomb structures of silicon, germanium and tin, respectively. They show quantum spin Hall effects in nature due to the spin orbit interaction. The band gap can be tuned by applying perpendicular electric field, which induces a topological phase transition. We also analyze the topological properties of generic honeycomb systems together with the classification of topological insulators. Phase diagram of topological insulators and superconductors in honeycomb systems are explicitly determined. We also investigate topological electronics including a topological field-effect transistor, the topological Kirchhoff's law and the topological spin-valleytronics.