Intrinsic 1 $${T}^{{\prime} }$$ T ′ phase induced in atomically thin 2H-MoTe2 by a single terahertz pulse

Jiaojian Shi, Ya-Qing Bie (), Alfred Zong, Shiang Fang, Wei Chen, Jinchi Han, Zhaolong Cao, Yong Zhang, Takashi Taniguchi, Kenji Watanabe, Xuewen Fu, Vladimir Bulović, Efthimios Kaxiras, Edoardo Baldini, Pablo Jarillo-Herrero () and Keith A. Nelson ()
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Jiaojian Shi: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Ya-Qing Bie: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Alfred Zong: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Shiang Fang: Harvard University
Wei Chen: Harvard University
Jinchi Han: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Zhaolong Cao: Sun Yat-sen University
Yong Zhang: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Takashi Taniguchi: National Institute for Materials Science
Kenji Watanabe: National Institute for Materials Science
Xuewen Fu: Nankai University
Vladimir Bulović: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Efthimios Kaxiras: Harvard University
Edoardo Baldini: The University of Texas at Austin
Pablo Jarillo-Herrero: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Keith A. Nelson: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract The polymorphic transition from 2H to 1 $${T}^{{\prime} }$$ T ′ -MoTe2, which was thought to be induced by high-energy photon irradiation among many other means, has been intensely studied for its technological relevance in nanoscale transistors due to the remarkable improvement in electrical performance. However, it remains controversial whether a crystalline 1 $${T}^{{\prime} }$$ T ′ phase is produced because optical signatures of this putative transition are found to be associated with the formation of tellurium clusters instead. Here we demonstrate the creation of an intrinsic 1 $${T}^{{\prime} }$$ T ′ lattice after irradiating a mono- or few-layer 2H-MoTe2 with a single field-enhanced terahertz pulse. Unlike optical pulses, the low terahertz photon energy limits possible structural damages. We further develop a single-shot terahertz-pump-second-harmonic-probe technique and reveal a transition out of the 2H-phase within 10 ns after photoexcitation. Our results not only provide important insights to resolve the long-standing debate over the light-induced polymorphic transition in MoTe2 but also highlight the unique capability of strong-field terahertz pulses in manipulating quantum materials.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41291-w

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