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Electronic phase diagram established in Fe intercalated Weyl semimetal Td-MoTe2 for the first time

Electronic phase diagram established in Fe intercalated Weyl semimetal Td-MoTe2 for the first time
MoTe2 crystal structure from another study. (a) HAADF-STEM image of 1T′-MoTe2 along the [100] zone (scale bar, 0.5 nm). The red rectangle shows HAADF simulated image, and the red and blue spheres in the yellow rectangle represent Te and Mo atoms, respectively. (b) Corresponding electron diffraction images. (c) 1T′ and Td-MoTe2 crystal structures. (d) Energy-volume dependence for 1T′ and Td phases from DFT calculations. Credit: Nature Communications (2016). DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11038

In a study published in Advanced Materials, a research team led by Prof. Luo Xuan from Hefei Institutes of Physical Science (HFIPS) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences made a breakthrough in tuning electronic properties of Weyl semimetal Td-MoTe2 by intercalating 3d-element Fe atoms into the van der Waals (vdW) gap, which brought about exotic electronic behaviors as well as the first-time observed magnetic states in the topologically nontrivial Td phase.

The layered material Weyl semimetal Td-MoTe2 has attracted great attention due to its valuable properties including superconductivity, extreme large magnetoresistance, as well as topologically nontrivial band structure, making it an ideal hunting ground for exploring new physics and a promising candidate for fabricating new electronic devices.

Different ways have been used to controllably manipulate the electronic properties of Td-MoTe2, such as pressure, chemical substitution, low-dimensionality by mechanical exfoliation, but the on the intercalation of transition-metal elements in Weyl semimetal Td-MoTe2 is still absent.

In this study, by improving the single crystal growth process, the 3d-element Fe intercalated Td-FexMoTe2 samples were obtained. The team carried out systematic electrical, thermoelectric transport and ac susceptibility measurements, and studied the tunning effect of Fe intercalations in the system.

The team found that the 1T' to Td phase transition temperature (TS) of MoTe2 gradually decreased with the increase of Fe intercalation, which was confirmed by different characterization results. Theoretical calculation suggested that the increased energy of Td phase, enhanced transition barrier and more occupied bands in 1T' phase were responsible for this phenomenon.

In addition, a ρ-ln T behavior induced by Kondo effect was observed with x ≥ 0.08, due to the coupling between conduction carriers and the local magnetic moments of intercalated Fe atoms. A spin-glass transition occurred at about 10K in Td-MoTe2. The electronic diagram of Td-MoTe2 was established for the first time.

This study enriched the physical properties of Weyl semimetal Td-MoTe2 by 3d-element intercalation, and provided an ideal platform for in-depth understanding the correlation between the ground states and the interlayer coupling in layered (TMDCs).

More information: Tianyang Wang et al, Origin of the Anomalous Electrical Transport Behavior in Fe‐Intercalated Weyl Semimetal T d ‐MoTe 2, Advanced Materials (2023). DOI: 10.1002/adma.202208800

Citation: Electronic phase diagram established in Fe intercalated Weyl semimetal Td-MoTe2 for the first time (2023, March 23) retrieved 29 March 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2023-03-electronic-phase-diagram-fe-intercalated.html
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