Topology and correlation in a monolayer topological insulator TaIrTe4

by Prof. Jian Tang（汤建） (Zhejiang University)

Wednesday 23 Sept 2026, 10:00 → 11:00 Asia/Shanghai

Tsung-Dao Lee Institute/N4F-N400 - meeting room (Tsung-Dao Lee Institute)

Host: Prof. Anyuan Gao  

Venue: TDLI Meeting Room N400

Tencent Meeting link: https://meeting.tencent.com/dm/4Fp9XuFFfKkf

 Meeting ID: 236922948, no password

 

Abstract:

The interplay of topology, electronic correlations, and lattice degrees of freedom gives rise to rich quantum phenomena in low-dimensional materials. In this talk, I will present our recent discoveries in monolayer TaIrTe4, a material hosting both topological and correlated electronic states. We discovered a dual quantum spin Hall (QSH) effect, revealing both single-particle and correlated topological states within the same material. Further studies uncovered interaction-driven transitions among QSH insulator, trivial insulator, and metal phases, demonstrating the central role of electronic correlations in shaping the topological phase diagram. More recently, we discovered spontaneous superlattice memory effect, a nonvolatile memory mechanism that encodes information directly into the lattice structure. This finding introduces a new approach to information storage beyond conventional charge- and spin-based mechanisms. Crucially, the superlattice also serves as a programmable structure whose reversible switching reshapes the electronic properties. Together, these discoveries link topology and electronic correlations with nonvolatile superlattice memory, opening a route to controlling topological flat bands and emergent quantum phases.

 

Biography:

Jian Tang is a tenure-track Assistant Professor at the School of Physics, Zhejiang University. He received his Ph.D. from the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IOP-CAS) in 2021 and subsequently conducted postdoctoral research at Boston College until 2026. His research interests focus on the discovery, understanding, and control of emergent quantum states in low-dimensional materials and devices. His current work investigates topology, electronic correlations, and their interplay in two-dimensional topological insulators, employing linear and nonlinear transport as complementary probes to uncover novel quantum phases and elucidate their underlying physical mechanisms.