Hierarchical stripe phases in IrTe2 driven by competition between Ir dimerization and Te bonding

Abstract

Layered 5d transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) IrTe2 is distinguished from the traditional TMDs (such as NbSe2) by the existence of multiple CDW-like stripe phases and superconductivity at low temperatures. Despite of intensive studies, there is still no consensus on the physical origin of the stripe phases or even the ground state modulation for this 5d material. Here, we present atomic-scale evidence from scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy (STM/STS), that the ground state of IrTe2 is a q=1/6 stripe phase, identical to that of the Se-doped compound. Furthermore, our data suggest that the multiple transitions and stripe phases are driven by the intralayer Ir-Ir dimerization that competes against the interlayer Te-Te bonding. The competition results in a unified phase diagram with a series of hierarchical modulated stripe phases, strikingly similar to the renowned "devil's staircase" phenomena.

12 pages, 4 figures

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• Trimer Bonding States on the Surface of Transition-metal Dichalcogenide TaTe2
• Surface phases of the transition-metal dichalcogenide IrTe2
• Robustness of the charge-ordered phases in IrTe${}_2$ against photoexcitation
• Examining the surface phase diagram of IrTe${}_2$ with photoemission
• Structural phase transition and electronic structure evolution in Ir1-xPtxTe2 studied by scanning tunneling microscopy
• Charge-Stripe Order and Superconductivity in $\mathrm{I}{\mathrm{r}}_{1-\mathrm{x}}\mathrm{P}{\mathrm{t}}_{\mathrm{x}}\mathrm{T}{\mathrm{e}}_2$
• Thermoelectric studies of Ir${}_{1-x}$Rh${}_x$Te${}_2$ (0 $⩽x⩽$ 0.3)
• Absence of Local Fluctuating Dimers in Superconducting Ir${}_{1-x}$(Pt,Rh)${}_x$Te${}_2$
• Synthesis of monoclinic IrTe2 under high pressure and its physical properties
• Dimensional crossover of charge order in IrTe${}_2$ with strong interlayer coupling
• Phase Transition in IrTe${}_2$ induced by spin-orbit coupling
• Insensitivity of the striped charge-orders in IrTe${}_2$ to alkali surface doping implies their structural origin
• Break of symmetry at the surface of IrTe${}_2$ upon phase transition measured by X-ray photoelectron diffraction