Quantum Hall states observed in thin films of Dirac semimetal Cd₃As₂

A well known semiconductor Cd₃As₂ has reentered the spotlight due to its unique electronic structure and quantum transport phenomena as a topological Dirac semimetal. For elucidating and controlling its topological quantum state, high-quality Cd₃As₂ thin films have been highly desired. Here we report the development of an elaborate growth technique of high-crystallinity and high-mobility Cd₃As₂ films with controlled thicknesses and the observation of quantum Hall effect dependent on the film thickness. With decreasing the film thickness to 10 nm, the quantum Hall states exhibit variations such as a change in the spin degeneracy reflecting the Dirac dispersion with a large Fermi velocity. Details of the electronic structure including subband splitting and gap opening are identified from the quantum transport depending on the confinement thickness, suggesting the presence of a two-dimensional topological insulating phase. The demonstration of quantum Hall states in our high-quality Cd₃As₂ films paves a road to study quantum transport and device application in topological Dirac semimetal and its derivative phases.