Observation of room-temperature amplitude mode in quasi-one-dimensional charge-density-wave material CuTe

Abstract

We have performed in-plane electrical transport and polarized Raman spectroscopy measurements on layered material CuTe to characterize the quasi-one-dimensional charge density wave (CDW). Along with the CDW formation below TCDW ∼346 K, the a-axis resistivity shows a huge hump, but the b-axis resistivity exhibits no evident anomaly, manifesting the quasi-one-dimensional character of the CDW. Concomitantly, a rapid rise in positive Hall coefficient is observed due to partial gaping out of the Fermi surface. Based on our Raman scattering measurement, we observe two Raman-active phonon modes in the non-CDW state and, additionally, one collective amplitude mode and four zone-folded modes in the CDW state. The phonon-mode shift with temperature clearly deviates from the expected anharmonic model upon approaching TCDW, suggesting strong electron–phonon coupling in driving the CDW transition. The amplitude mode even survives at room temperature and above, whose evolution can be described by a modified mean-field model, indicating a well-defined CDW order. These results, in addition to the simple formula and easy-to-exfoliate layered structure, promise CuTe as a model system to study the Peierls-like CDW physics and hold great potentials for CDW-based applications.