Analysis of plasmon modes in Bi2Se3/graphene heterostructures via electron energy loss spectroscopy

Abstract Topological Insulators (TIs) are promising platforms for Quantum Technology due to their topologically protected surface states (TSS). Plasmonic excitations in TIs are especially interesting both as a method of characterisation for TI heterostructures, and as potential routes to couple opti...

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Main Authors: Timothy Moorsom, Mairi McCauley, Ahmad Nizamuddin Bin Muhammad Mustafa, Sami Ramadan, Joel Burton, Satoshi Sasaki, Donald A. MacLaren, Peter K. Petrov
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-12-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-81488-7
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author Timothy Moorsom
Mairi McCauley
Ahmad Nizamuddin Bin Muhammad Mustafa
Sami Ramadan
Joel Burton
Satoshi Sasaki
Donald A. MacLaren
Peter K. Petrov
author_facet Timothy Moorsom
Mairi McCauley
Ahmad Nizamuddin Bin Muhammad Mustafa
Sami Ramadan
Joel Burton
Satoshi Sasaki
Donald A. MacLaren
Peter K. Petrov
author_sort Timothy Moorsom
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Topological Insulators (TIs) are promising platforms for Quantum Technology due to their topologically protected surface states (TSS). Plasmonic excitations in TIs are especially interesting both as a method of characterisation for TI heterostructures, and as potential routes to couple optical and spin signals in low-loss devices. Since the electrical properties of the TI surface are critical, tuning TI surfaces is a vital step in developing TI structures that can be applied in real world plasmonic devices. Here, we present a study of Bi2Se3/graphene heterostructures, prepared using a low-cost transfer method that reliably produces mono-layer graphene coatings on Bi2Se3 flakes. Using both Raman spectroscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS), we show that the graphene layer redshifts the energy of the $$\pi$$ plasmon mode in Bi2Se3, creating a distinct surface plasmon that differs significantly from the behaviour of a TI-trivial insulator boundary. We demonstrate that this is likely due to band-bending and electron transfer between the TI surface and the graphene layer. Based on these results, we outline how graphene overlayers can be used to create tuneable, stable plasmonic materials based on topological insulators.
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spelling doaj-art-9f19d9f8b0854dd3a58dbeb6592ac3ca2025-08-20T02:43:33ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-12-011411810.1038/s41598-024-81488-7Analysis of plasmon modes in Bi2Se3/graphene heterostructures via electron energy loss spectroscopyTimothy Moorsom0Mairi McCauley1Ahmad Nizamuddin Bin Muhammad Mustafa2Sami Ramadan3Joel Burton4Satoshi Sasaki5Donald A. MacLaren6Peter K. Petrov7School of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of LeedsSUPA, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of GlasgowDepartment of Materials, Imperial College LondonDepartment of Materials, Imperial College LondonSchool of Physics and Astronomy, University of LeedsSchool of Physics and Astronomy, University of LeedsSUPA, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of GlasgowDepartment of Materials, Imperial College LondonAbstract Topological Insulators (TIs) are promising platforms for Quantum Technology due to their topologically protected surface states (TSS). Plasmonic excitations in TIs are especially interesting both as a method of characterisation for TI heterostructures, and as potential routes to couple optical and spin signals in low-loss devices. Since the electrical properties of the TI surface are critical, tuning TI surfaces is a vital step in developing TI structures that can be applied in real world plasmonic devices. Here, we present a study of Bi2Se3/graphene heterostructures, prepared using a low-cost transfer method that reliably produces mono-layer graphene coatings on Bi2Se3 flakes. Using both Raman spectroscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS), we show that the graphene layer redshifts the energy of the $$\pi$$ plasmon mode in Bi2Se3, creating a distinct surface plasmon that differs significantly from the behaviour of a TI-trivial insulator boundary. We demonstrate that this is likely due to band-bending and electron transfer between the TI surface and the graphene layer. Based on these results, we outline how graphene overlayers can be used to create tuneable, stable plasmonic materials based on topological insulators.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-81488-7
spellingShingle Timothy Moorsom
Mairi McCauley
Ahmad Nizamuddin Bin Muhammad Mustafa
Sami Ramadan
Joel Burton
Satoshi Sasaki
Donald A. MacLaren
Peter K. Petrov
Analysis of plasmon modes in Bi2Se3/graphene heterostructures via electron energy loss spectroscopy
Scientific Reports
title Analysis of plasmon modes in Bi2Se3/graphene heterostructures via electron energy loss spectroscopy
title_full Analysis of plasmon modes in Bi2Se3/graphene heterostructures via electron energy loss spectroscopy
title_fullStr Analysis of plasmon modes in Bi2Se3/graphene heterostructures via electron energy loss spectroscopy
title_full_unstemmed Analysis of plasmon modes in Bi2Se3/graphene heterostructures via electron energy loss spectroscopy
title_short Analysis of plasmon modes in Bi2Se3/graphene heterostructures via electron energy loss spectroscopy
title_sort analysis of plasmon modes in bi2se3 graphene heterostructures via electron energy loss spectroscopy
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-81488-7
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