Evidence of Charge density wave in Re doped MoTe₂

Transition metal dichalcogenides exhibit interesting structural and intercalation chemistry and consequent exotic physical properties. Superconductivity with a very low transition temperature of 0.1 K was earlier discovered in the orthorhombic MoTe₂. MoTe₂ also shows a charge density wave (CDW) phase when grown in thin film form, but a CDW phase in bulk MoTe₂ has not been reported. It is also known that Re substitution for Mo sites leads to an increase in superconducting transition temperature. Mo_0.8Re_0.2Te₂ shows a high critical temperature T_c of 3.8 K. Based on our transport and scanning tunneling microscopy experiments we will discuss that the compound Mo_0.8Re_0.2Te₂ also supports a CDW phase with an onset temperature of 150 K. Our results suggest that CDW and superconductivity may compete with each other in Re doped MoTe₂.