Tuning magnetism and band topology through antisite defects in Sb-doped MnBi4Te7

The fine control of magnetism and electronic structure in a magnetic topological insulator is crucial in order to realize various novel magnetic topological states including axion insulators, magnetic Weyl semimetals, Chern insulators, etc. Through crystal growth, transport, thermodynamic, neutron diffraction measurements, we show that under Sb doping the newly discovered intrinsic antiferromagnetic (AFM) topological insulator MnBi4Te7 evolves from AFM to ferromagnetic (FM) and then ferrimagnetic. We attribute this to the formation of Mn-(Bi,Mn-Sb) antisites upon doping, which results in additional Mn sublattices that modify the delicate interlayer magnetic interactions and cause the dominant Mn sublattice to go from AFM to FM. We further investigate the effect of antisites on the band topology using the first-principles calculations. Without considering antisites, the series evolves from AFM topological insulator (x = 0) to FM axion insulators. In the exaggerated case of 16.7% of periodic antisites, the band topology is modified and a type-I magnetic Weyl semimetal phase can be realized at intermediate dopings. Therefore, this doping series provides a fruitful platform with continuously tunable magnetism and topology for investigating emergent phenomena, including quantum anomalous Hall effect, Fermi arc states, etc.

Automated summary

The magnetic topological insulator MnBi4Te7 undergoes a transition from intrinsic antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic and then ferrimagnetic under Sb doping, attributed to the formation of Mn-(Bi,Mn-Sb) antisites resulting in modified interlayer magnetic interactions. This provides a platform for investigating emergent phenomena such as quantum anomalous Hall effect and Fermi arc states. Additionally, the band topology can be modified to realize a type-I magnetic Weyl semimetal phase with periodic antisites.