Testing the topological insulator behavior of half-Heusler PdYBi and PtYBi (111) epitaxial thin films

Materials with high spin-to-charge interconversion efficiency are of high interest for advanced spintronic applications. Previous work has suggested that topological insulators may exhibit higher efficiency than traditionally-used heavy metals. Here, the authors explore the half-Heusler compounds PdYBi and PtYBi and their potential use for spin-to-charge interconversion. Epitaxial thin films of PdYBi and PtYBi are successfully prepared and demonstrated to exhibit nontrivial topology. Characterization of the magnetotransport in a model device shows that these half-Heusler films can outperform platinum in spin-to-charge interconversion.