Advances in Rare‐Earth Tritelluride Quantum Materials: Structure, Properties, and Synthesis

Abstract

A distinct class of 2D layered quantum materials with the chemical formula of RTe3 (R = lanthanide) has gained significant attention owing to the occurrence of collective quantum states, superconductivity, charge density waves (CDW), spin density waves, and other advanced quantum properties. To study the Fermi surface nesting driven CDW formation, the layered RTe3 family stages an excellent low dimensional genre system. In addition to the primary energy gap feature observed at higher energy, optical spectroscopy study on some RTe3 evidence a second CDW energy gap structure indicating the occurrence of multiple CDW ordering even with light and intermediate RTe3 compounds. Here, a comprehensive review of the fundamentals of RTe3 layered tritelluride materials is presented with a special focus on the recent advances made in electronic structure, CDW transition, superconductivity, magnetic properties of these unique quantum materials. A detailed description of successful synthesis routes including the flux method, self‐flux method, and CVT along with potential applications is summarized.

Pressure-induced suppression of charge density phases across the entire rare-earth tritellurides by optical spectroscopy

“…This causes larger in-plane lattice constant anisotropy and higher T CDW moving from Tb to La. 12 Fig. 4a summarizes the pressure required to cross over from CDW to non-CDW phase across the entire RTe 3 series.…”

“…2 More recent studies have shown the presence of the light-induced CDW phase, 8 and thickness-dependent CDW properties, 9 and established GTe 3 as a high carrier mobility material with unique magnetic ordering. 10,11 Lately, much effort has been given to understanding the CDW phase behavior, which is hosted within the Te atomic layers 12 and driven not only by Fermi surface nesting 3 but also by strong electron–phonon interaction. 13,14 Here the two Te layers are separated by the RTe slab, as shown in Fig.…”

Experimental and Theoretical Studies of the Surface Oxidation Process of Rare‐Earth Tritellurides

“…[13,19,20] Overall, RTe 3 materials exhibit CDW phase transition temperature (T CDW ) ranging from below room temperature (220 K for TmTe 3 ) to well-above room temperature (550 K for LaTe 3 ) across the entire lanthanide series. [11,14] For practical applications of RTe 3 materials, however, their air stability plays a critical role that ultimately dictates the reliability and lifetime of the device. Because of their large surfaceto-volume ratio, 2D materials and even vdW layered crystals raise concerns regarding their stability.…”

“…One of the examples of this class of vdW CDW crystals is the lanthanide tritellurides series with the chemical formula of rare-earth tritellurides (RTe 3 ), where R stands for the rare-earth elements from La to Tm. [11] Previous studies have shown the emergence of temperature-driven CDW phase in RTe 3 based on Raman spectroscopy, [12,13] electrical resistivity measurements, [4,14] angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (ARPES), [15,16] as well as electron diffraction. [17,18] The presence of the CDW state was attributed to the Fermi surface nesting or strong electron-phonon interaction and can be accompanied by the Kohn anomaly.…”

Magnetic Phase Diagram of van der Waals Antiferromagnet TbTe3

“…Various aspects of charge density wave transitions in RE tritellurides are discussed in [7]. Within this family, TbTe 3 stands out as material evidencing three successive magnetic phase transitions at T N1 = 6.6 K, T N2 = 5.6 K, and T N3 = 5.4 K ascribed to the interplay of magnetism with charge density waves [8].…”