Park, K.Heremans, Jean J.Scarola, Vito W.Minic, Djordje2017-02-202017-02-202010-10-270031-9007http://hdl.handle.net/10919/75081Bulk Bi2Te3 is known to be a topological insulator. We investigate surface states of Bi₂Te₃(111) thin films using density-functional theory including spin-orbit coupling. We construct a method to unambiguously identify surface states of thin film topological insulators. Applying this method for one to six quintuple layers of Bi₂Te₃, we find that the topological nature of the surface states remains robust with the film thickness and that the films of three or more quintuple layers have topologically non-trivial or protected surface states, in agreement with recent experiments.4 pagesapplication/pdfenIn CopyrightPhysics, MultidisciplinaryPhysicsTOTAL-ENERGY CALCULATIONSSINGLE DIRAC CONEWAVE BASIS-SETELECTRONIC-STRUCTURETHERMOELECTRIC PROPERTIESBISMUTH TELLURIDEINSULATORBI2SE3PHOTOEMISSIONSB2TE3Article - Refereedhttps://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.105.18680110518Scarola, VW [0000-0002-8653-2723]