Observation of Macroscopic Nonlocal Voltage and Hydrodynamic Electron Flow at Room Temperature

Abstract: Imagine three resistors connected in series. Normally when a battery is connected across the center resistor, the side resistors remain silent with no current flow and no voltage across. Nonlocal voltage is the exceptional potential difference observed at the side resistors. Here, we report sub-V level nonlocal voltages at room temperature, from mm-scale devices comprised of nominal Bi2Se3 on YBa2Cu3O7. They also display extremely nonlinear current-voltage characteristics, potential peaks at current contacts, and negative resistances, suggesting the macroscopic electron hydrodynamics as the origin of nonlocal voltages. Similar observations in Bi2Te3 on YBa2Cu3O7 suggest an unprecedented quantum phase in chemically-modified topological insulators. Vanishing differential resistance may find applications in energy saving transport.