Anionic depolymerization transition in IrTe2

Phys Rev Lett. 2013 Mar 22;110(12):127209. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.110.127209. Epub 2013 Mar 22.

Abstract

Selenium substitution drastically increases the transition temperature of iridium ditelluride (IrTe(2)) to a diamagnetic superstructure from 278 to 560 K. Transmission electron microscopy experiments revealed that this enhancement is accompanied by the evolution of nonsinusoidal structure modulations from q = 1/5(101) to q = 1/6(101) types. These comprehensive results are consistent with the concept of the destabilization of polymeric Te-Te bonds at the transition, the temperature of which is increased by chemical and hydrostatic pressure and by the substitution of Te with the more electronegative Se. This temperature-induced depolymerization transition in IrTe(2) is unique in crystalline inorganic solids.