High-pressure phases of van der Waals Weyl semimetal transition metal ditellurides

Abstract Previous high-pressure studies about WTe2 have reported divergent critical pressures for structural and electronic phase transitions, obscuring a comprehensive understanding about the complex quantum phases. In this work, we precisely assign the structural phase evolutions and relevant elec...

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Main Authors: Hwiin Ju, Siwon Oh, Heejung Kim, Duk Hyun Lee, Choongjae Won, Suyong Jung, Hyeonsik Cheong, Jong Seok Lee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:NPG Asia Materials
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41427-025-00602-x
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author Hwiin Ju
Siwon Oh
Heejung Kim
Duk Hyun Lee
Choongjae Won
Suyong Jung
Hyeonsik Cheong
Jong Seok Lee
author_facet Hwiin Ju
Siwon Oh
Heejung Kim
Duk Hyun Lee
Choongjae Won
Suyong Jung
Hyeonsik Cheong
Jong Seok Lee
author_sort Hwiin Ju
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Previous high-pressure studies about WTe2 have reported divergent critical pressures for structural and electronic phase transitions, obscuring a comprehensive understanding about the complex quantum phases. In this work, we precisely assign the structural phase evolutions and relevant electronic changes of type-II Weyl semimetals, WTe2 and MoTe2, using various optical methods. We confirm that the Td to 1T′ structural phase transition occurs at about 2.5 GPa concomitantly with the previously reported decrease of magnetoresistance and emergence of superconductivity. Notably, electron-phonon coupling remains intact despite pressure-dependent variations in structural symmetry and atomic bond strengths, providing crucial insights into the origin of superconductivity in transition metal ditellurides. We also demonstrate an additional structural transition at about 10 GPa, possibly to a triclinic 1T″ structure, which has a significant influence on the electronic structure due to intra-layer distortion of atomic positions. Our findings on distinct evolutions of inter-layer and intra-layer structural parameters offer a generic understanding of the relationship between anisotropic bond strength in the van der Waals materials and pressure-dependent structural changes.
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spelling doaj-art-8db036aba5be45d7b56ece107cc4facd2025-08-20T03:48:18ZengNature PortfolioNPG Asia Materials1884-40572025-04-011711810.1038/s41427-025-00602-xHigh-pressure phases of van der Waals Weyl semimetal transition metal ditelluridesHwiin Ju0Siwon Oh1Heejung Kim2Duk Hyun Lee3Choongjae Won4Suyong Jung5Hyeonsik Cheong6Jong Seok Lee7Department of Physics and Photon Science, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST)Department of Physics and Center for Nano Materials, Sogang UniversityCenter for Theoretical Physics, Seoul National UniversityKorea Research Institute of Standards and ScienceMax Planck POSTECH Center for Complex Phase Materials, Department of Physics, Pohang University of Science and TechnologyKorea Research Institute of Standards and ScienceDepartment of Physics and Center for Nano Materials, Sogang UniversityDepartment of Physics and Photon Science, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST)Abstract Previous high-pressure studies about WTe2 have reported divergent critical pressures for structural and electronic phase transitions, obscuring a comprehensive understanding about the complex quantum phases. In this work, we precisely assign the structural phase evolutions and relevant electronic changes of type-II Weyl semimetals, WTe2 and MoTe2, using various optical methods. We confirm that the Td to 1T′ structural phase transition occurs at about 2.5 GPa concomitantly with the previously reported decrease of magnetoresistance and emergence of superconductivity. Notably, electron-phonon coupling remains intact despite pressure-dependent variations in structural symmetry and atomic bond strengths, providing crucial insights into the origin of superconductivity in transition metal ditellurides. We also demonstrate an additional structural transition at about 10 GPa, possibly to a triclinic 1T″ structure, which has a significant influence on the electronic structure due to intra-layer distortion of atomic positions. Our findings on distinct evolutions of inter-layer and intra-layer structural parameters offer a generic understanding of the relationship between anisotropic bond strength in the van der Waals materials and pressure-dependent structural changes.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41427-025-00602-x
spellingShingle Hwiin Ju
Siwon Oh
Heejung Kim
Duk Hyun Lee
Choongjae Won
Suyong Jung
Hyeonsik Cheong
Jong Seok Lee
High-pressure phases of van der Waals Weyl semimetal transition metal ditellurides
NPG Asia Materials
title High-pressure phases of van der Waals Weyl semimetal transition metal ditellurides
title_full High-pressure phases of van der Waals Weyl semimetal transition metal ditellurides
title_fullStr High-pressure phases of van der Waals Weyl semimetal transition metal ditellurides
title_full_unstemmed High-pressure phases of van der Waals Weyl semimetal transition metal ditellurides
title_short High-pressure phases of van der Waals Weyl semimetal transition metal ditellurides
title_sort high pressure phases of van der waals weyl semimetal transition metal ditellurides
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41427-025-00602-x
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