Weak Anti-Localization and Quantum Oscillations in Topological Crystalline Insulator PbTe

Topological crystalline insulators (TCIs) have attracted worldwide interest since their theoretical predication and have created exciting opportunities for studying topological quantum physics and for exploring spintronic applications. In this work, we successfully synthesize PbTe nanowires via the chemical vapor deposition method and demonstrate the existence of topological surface states by their 2D weak anti-localization effect and Shubnikov–de Haas oscillations. More importantly, the surface state contributes \sim61% of the total conduction, suggesting dominant surface transport in PbTe nanowires at low temperatures. Our work provides an experimental groundwork for researching TCIs and is a step forward for the applications of PbTe nanowires in spintronic devices.