Hall-effect within the colossal magnetoresistive semi-metallic state of MoTe2

TL;DR

This study investigates the Hall-effect in bulk MoTe2, revealing that its large magnetoresistance is due to near electron-hole compensation and suggests a possible electronic phase transition below 40 K.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of carrier densities and mobilities in MoTe2, highlighting a potential phase transition and clarifying the origin of its magnetoresistance.

Findings

Large non-saturating magnetoresistance due to electron-hole compensation

Sudden increase in hole density below 40 K

Possible electronic phase transition around 40 K

Abstract

Here, we report a systematic study on the Hall-effect of the semi-metallic state of bulk MoTe$_2$, which was recently claimed to be a candidate for a novel type of Weyl semi-metallic state. The temperature ($T$) dependence of the carrier densities and of their mobilities, as estimated from a numerical analysis based on the isotropic two-carrier model, indicates that its exceedingly large and non-saturating magnetoresistance may be attributed to a near perfect compensation between the densities of electrons and holes at low temperatures. A sudden increase in hole density, with a concomitant rapid increase in the electron mobility below $T \sim 40$ K, leads to comparable densities of electrons and holes at low temperatures suggesting a possible electronic phase-transition around this temperature.