Supercell Formation in Epitaxial Rare-Earth Ditelluride Thin Films

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.cgd.3c00755
• Publication Date: 2023-12-14T03:45:15Z
• Authors: Adrian Llanos; Salva Salmani-Rezaie; Jinwoong Kim; Nicholas Kioussis; David A. Muller; Joseph Falson
• Keywords: Supercell; Charge Density Wave; Lattice constant

Square-net tellurides host an array of electronic ground states and commonly exhibit charge-density-wave ordering. Here, we report the epitaxy DyTe2−δ on atomically flat MgO (001) using molecular beam epitaxy. The films are single phase highly oriented, as evidenced by transmission electron microscopy X-ray diffraction measurements. Epitaxial strain is evident in relieved thickness increases up to a value approximately 20 quintuple layers. Diffraction features associated with supercell resolved, which coupled Te-deficiency. First principles calculations attribute formation this defect lattice nesting conditions Fermi surface, produce periodic occupancy conducting Te square-net open band gap at chemical potential. This work establishes groundwork for exploring role tuning structural phases epitaxial related compounds.