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Bond competition and phase evolution on the IrTe2 surface

Author

Listed:
  • Qing Li

    (Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
    Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM) and Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Science and Technology, Soochow University)

  • Wenzhi Lin

    (Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory)

  • Jiaqiang Yan

    (University of Tennessee
    Oak Ridge National Laboratory)

  • Xin Chen

    (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)

  • Anthony G. Gianfrancesco

    (UT/ORNL Bredesen Center, University of Tennessee, Knoxville)

  • David J. Singh

    (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)

  • David Mandrus

    (University of Tennessee
    Oak Ridge National Laboratory)

  • Sergei V. Kalinin

    (Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory)

  • Minghu Pan

    (Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
    School of Physics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology)

Abstract

Compounds with incommensurate structural modulations have been extensively studied in last several decades. However, the relationship between structurally incommensurate/commensurate phases and associated electronic states remains enigmatic. Here we report the coexisting of complex incommensurate structures and highly unusual electronic roughness on the surface of in situ cleaved IrTe2 by using scanning tunnelling microscopy/spectroscopy, corroborated with extensive density-functional theory calculations. This behaviour is traced to structural instability, which induces a structural transition from a trigonal to a triclinic lattice below transition temperature, giving rise to the formation of unidirectional structural modulations with distinct wavelengths, accompanied by the opening of a ‘pseudo’-gap in the surface layer. With further cooling the surface adopts a structure that reflects an ~6 × periodicity that is different from the bulk 5 × periodicity. Calculations show that the structure distortion is not associated with a charge density wave, but is rather associated with Te p-electron bonding.

Suggested Citation

  • Qing Li & Wenzhi Lin & Jiaqiang Yan & Xin Chen & Anthony G. Gianfrancesco & David J. Singh & David Mandrus & Sergei V. Kalinin & Minghu Pan, 2014. "Bond competition and phase evolution on the IrTe2 surface," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:5:y:2014:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms6358
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms6358
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