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Investigating the electrical transport properties and electronic structure of Zr2CuSb3

Eoghan Downey1, Soumya S. Bhat2, Shane Smolenski1, Ruiqi Tang1, Carly Mistick1, Aaron Bostwick3, Chris Jozwiak3, Eli Rotenberg3, Demet Usanmaz2,* et al.

Na Hyun Jo1,†

  • *Contact author: dusanmaz@kettering.edu
  • †Contact author: nhjo@umich.edu
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Phys. Rev. Materials 10, 025001 – Published 6 February, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/qrll-lplv

Abstract

The checkerboard lattice has been proposed to host topological flat bands as a result of destructive interference among its various electronic hopping terms. However, it has proven challenging to realize experimentally due to the difficulty of isolating this structure from any significant out-of-plane bonding while maintaining structural integrity. Here, single crystals of Zr2CuSb3, a potential candidate for the checkerboard lattice, were synthesized using the solution (self-flux) method, and their structure was confirmed via x-ray diffraction. Electrical-transport measurements indicate metallic behavior with electron-dominated carriers. Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy reveals multiple electron pockets and significant kz broadening due to its large c axis and low dispersion features in kz. Density-functional theory (DFT) calculations further disentangle the contributions from each high-symmetry plane, providing a comprehensive characterization of electronic behavior. The DFT calculations were then used to determine the orbital contributions of the bands and detect the out-of-plane bonding which prevented the flat bands from forming.

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Phys. Rev. Materials 10, 025001– Published 6 February, 2026
  • Received 26 August 2025
  • Accepted 24 December 2025
Article part of CHORUS
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