Abstract
The emergence of correlated phenomena arising from the combination of 1T and 1H van der Waals layers is the focus of intense research. Here, we synthesize a self-stacked 6R phase in NbSeTe, showing perfect alternating 1T and 1H layers that grow coherently along the c-direction, as revealed by scanning transmission electron microscopy. Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy shows a mixed contribution of the trigonal and octahedral Nb bands to the Fermi level. Diffuse scattering reveals temperature-independent short-range charge fluctuations with propagation vector qCO = (0.25 0), derived from the condensation of a longitudinal mode in the 1T layer, while the long-range charge density wave is quenched by ligand disorder. Magnetization measurements suggest the presence of an inhomogeneous, short-range magnetic order, further supported by the absence of a clear phase transition in the specific heat. These experimental analyses in combination with ab initio calculations indicate that the ground state of 6R-NbSeTe is described by a statistical distribution of short-range charge-modulated and spin-correlated regions driven by ligand disorder. Our results demonstrate how natural 1T-1H self-stacked bulk heterostructures can be used to engineer emergent phases of matter.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 21052-21060 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | ACS Nano |
Volume | 18 |
Issue number | 32 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 13 Aug 2024 |
MoE publication type | A1 Journal article-refereed |
Keywords
- 2D heterostructures
- ab initio calculations
- ARPES
- magnetism
- transition metal dichalcogenides
- transmission electron microscopy
- X-ray scattering