Multiple Charge density waves and lattice superstructures in thin-layer TmTe2 and TmTe3

Zhilin Xu; Zimeng Zeng; Shuai-hua Ji; Xinqiang Cai; Xi Chen

Multiple Charge density waves and lattice superstructures in thin-layer TmTe2 and TmTe3

Materials Science 2021-05-24 v2

Authors: Zhilin Xu , Zimeng Zeng , Shuai-hua Ji , Xinqiang Cai , Xi Chen

Abstract

We have grown thulium tellurides (TmTe2, TmTe3) thin layers (less than four layers) on graphene/SiC (0001) by molecular beam epitaxy. The charge density waves (CDWs) and lattice superstructures (LSs) are investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy. Clear CDW patterns in real space are observed on surface of metallic TmTe3. Two CDWs are with wave vectors 0.29c* and 0.31a* respectively. LSs with various periods are unveiled on the surface of TmTe2 and TmTe3. The electronic structures of these films are semiconducting. These results show that superstructures in rare earth tellurides can have two origins, CDWs or LSs.

Keywords

charge density wave surface science electronic structure of materials

Cite

@article{arxiv.2105.08427,
  title  = {Multiple Charge density waves and lattice superstructures in thin-layer TmTe2 and TmTe3},
  author = {Zhilin Xu and Zimeng Zeng and Shuai-hua Ji and Xinqiang Cai and Xi Chen},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2105.08427},
  year   = {2021}
}

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