Space Group Symmetry of Chiral Fe-deficient van der Waals Magnet $\text{Fe}_{\text{3-x}}\text{GeTe}_{\text{2}}$ Probed by Convergent Beam Electron Diffraction

TL;DR

This study determines the room-temperature crystal symmetry of Fe-deficient Fe3-xGeTe2 using electron diffraction techniques, revealing a specific space group and symmetry breaking related to non-stoichiometry.

Contribution

The paper identifies the precise space group of Fe-deficient Fe3-xGeTe2 at room temperature using CBED, clarifying its symmetry properties and relation to previous reports.

Findings

Space group of Fe3-xGeTe2 is P6_3mc at room temperature.

Symmetry breaks from the parent P6_3/mmc to P6_3mc due to non-stoichiometry.

Previous P3m1 symmetry is a subgroup of P6_3mc, indicating further symmetry breaking.

Abstract

The crystal symmetry of Fe-deficient $\text{Fe}_{\text{3-x}}\text{GeTe}_{\text{2}}$ at room temperature has been investigated by a combination of selected-area electron diffraction (SAED) and convergent-beam electron diffraction (CBED). By symmetry analysis of CBED patterns along different zone axis, the space group of $\text{Fe}_{\text{3-x}}\text{GeTe}_{\text{2}}$ at room-temperature has been identified as $P6_3mc$ (No.186), which derives from the high-symmetry parent system $\text{Fe}_{\text{3}}\text{GeTe}_{\text{2}}$ ($P6_3/mmc$) by breaking the mirror symmetry along the 6-fold rotation axis. The $P3m1$ (No.156) space group previously reported for $\text{Fe}_{\text{3-x}}\text{GeTe}_{\text{2}}$ is a subgroup of $P6_3mc$ suggesting further possible symmetry breaks in this non-stoichiometric system.