Folding Graphene into a Chern Insulator with Light Irradiation

Area of Science:

• Condensed Matter Physics
• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Flexible graphene folding allows manipulation of electronic and optoelectronic properties.
• Topological insulators exhibit unique electronic properties due to their band structure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a novel method for realizing high-Chern-number Chern insulators (CIs) in folded graphene.
• To investigate the properties of light-induced topological states in curved graphene structures.

Main Methods:

• Theoretical proposal of light-induced Chern insulators in folded graphene.
• Analysis of chiral interface states along armchair and zigzag folding directions.
• Exploration of 2D and 3D CI realization in single-wall carbon nanotubes and periodic folded graphene.

Main Results:

• Demonstration of two-handedness-dependent chiral interface states localized at the curved regions of folded graphene.
• Attribution of these states to light-induced mass-term inversion.
• Realization of tunable 2D and 3D Chern insulators through controlled folding processes.

Conclusions:

• Folded graphene offers a versatile platform for creating topological states.
• The proposed
• foldtronics
• approach enables the design of novel Chern insulators with tunable properties.
• This work opens new avenues for experimental research in topological materials.