Robust axion insulator and Chern insulator phases in a two-dimensional antiferromagnetic topological insulator

Understand

The intricate interplay between nontrivial topology and magnetism in two-dimensional (2D) materials has led to the emergence of many novel phenomena and functionalities.

• An outstanding example is the quantum anomalous Hall (QAH) effect, which was realized in magnetically doped topological insulators (TIs) in the absence of magnetic field.
• Recently, the layered van der Waals compound MnBi2Te4 has been theoretically predicted and experimentally verified to be a TI with interlayer antiferromagnetic (AFM) order.
• It is a rare stoichiometric material with coexisting topology and magnetism, thus represents a perfect building block for complex topological-magnetic structures.