Phase diagrams in materials science of topological insulators based on metal chalcogenides

Abstract

The literature data on topological insulators (TIs) based on metal chalcogenides, which constitute a new unique class of functional materials, are systematized here in the context of physicochemical analysis and crystal chemistry. An accent is on the phase diagrams of relevant systems and the crystal structures of the main TI types. We show that, for search and design of new phases having TI properties, it will be expedient to revise earlier constructed phase diagrams for some systems, especially B^V–Se(Te) and A^IV–B^V–Te (A^IV = Ge, Sn, Pb; B^V = Sb, Bi) systems, using new approaches to studies of phase equilibria. There is also a need for systematic studies of complex systems involving binary and ternary TIs.