The ISOLTOPSUP is a FCT project that has as the main scientific goal the identification, preparation and study of high-quality topological insulators. Emphasis in made on novel compounds that have recently been theoretically suggested as very promising, like 5f (uranium) compounds that are semiconductors, non-magnetic and feature a large spin-orbit coupling favoring band inversion at specific points of the Brillouin zone, a key ingredient for topological insulator behavior. In addition, recent exciting developments connecting topological insulator behavior and superconductivity (superconducting proximity effect, topological superconductivity, huge enhancement of Tc possibly due to topological carrier confinement of a single layer of FeSe) is also exploited in this project.
Coordinator at IST: António Pereira Gonçalves – apg@ctn.tecnico.ulisboa.pt