Evolution of charge density waves from three-dimensional to quasi-two-dimensional in Kagome superconductors Cs(V$_{1-x}M_{x}$)$_3$Sb$_5$ ($M$ = Nb, Ta)

TL;DR

This study investigates how charge density wave (CDW) phases in Kagome superconductors evolve from three-dimensional to quasi-two-dimensional with V atom substitution, revealing suppression of certain CDW phases and insights into phase interplay.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed x-ray diffraction analysis of CDW evolution in CsV3Sb5 with V substitution, highlighting the dimensional crossover of CDW phases.

Findings

Disruption of 3D CDW into rod-like structures along c*

Suppression of the 2×2×4 CDW phase with minimal substitution

No hysteresis observed in CDW signals during temperature variation

Abstract

The Kagome material $A{\mathrm{V}}_3{\mathrm{Sb}}_5$ ($A$ = K, Rb, Cs) with geometry frustration hosts non-trivial topological electronic structures, electronic nematicity, charge density wave (CDW) and superconductivity, providing an ideal platform to study the interplay between these phases. Specifically, in pressurized- or substituted-${\mathrm{CsV}}_3{\mathrm{Sb}}_5$, the relationship between CDW and superconductivity is unusual and remains to be fully understood. Recently, coexisting and competing 2 $\times$ 2 $\times$ 4 and 2 $\times$ 2 $\times$ 2 CDW phases were discovered in ${\mathrm{CsV}}_3{\mathrm{Sb}}_5$. To investigate the evolution of the CDW phases with the substitution of V atoms, we performed x-ray diffraction (XRD) experiments on ${\mathrm{Cs(V}}_{1-x}{\mathrm{Ta}}_{x}{\mathrm{)}}_3{\mathrm{Sb}}_5$ and ${\mathrm{Cs(V}}_{1-x}{\mathrm{Nb}}_{x}{\mathrm{)}}_3{\mathrm{Sb}}_5$. Our results indicate that in all substituted samples, the discrete CDW reflection points in pristine ${\mathrm{CsV}}_3{\mathrm{Sb}}_5$ change to rod-like structures along the $c^\star$ direction. This suggests that the long-ranged three-dimensional CDW becomes quasi-two-dimensional by the substitution of V by Ta/Nb. Moreover, our temperature-dependent measurements show that there is no hysteresis behavior of CDW signals, indicating that the 2 $\times$ 2 $\times$ 4 CDW phase is easily suppressed by even a slight substitution of V with Nb/Ta. These findings uncover the CDW evolution upon substitution of V atoms in CsV$_3$Sb$_5$, providing insights into the microscopic mechanism of CDW and helping to understand the interplay between intertwined phases and superconductivity.