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Dynamic phase transition in 1T-TaS2 via a thermal quench

Nature Physics volume 21, pages 1267–1274 (2025)Cite this article

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Abstract

Ultrafast light–matter interaction has emerged as a mechanism to control the macroscopic properties of quantum materials. However, technological applications of photoinduced phases are limited by their ultrashort lifetimes and the low temperatures required for their stabilization. One such phase is the hidden metallic charge density wave state in 1T-TaS2, whose origin and stability above cryogenic temperatures remain the subject of debate. Here, we demonstrate that this phase can be stabilized at thermal equilibrium by accessing a mixed charge density wave order regime through thermal quenching. Using X-ray high-dynamic-range reciprocal space mapping and scanning tunnelling spectroscopy, we reveal the coexistence of commensurate charge density wave and hidden metallic charge density wave domains up to 210 K. Our findings show that each order parameter breaks basal plane mirror symmetry with different chiral orientations and induces out-of-plane unit cell tripling in the hidden phase. Despite metallic domain walls and a finite density of states, the bulk resistance remains insulating due to charge density wave stacking disorder. Our results establish the hidden state as a thermally stable phase and introduce an alternative mechanism for switchable metallic behaviour in thin flakes of 1T-TaS2 and similar materials with competing phases.

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Fig. 1: Thermal quench into the mixed-CDW phase.
Fig. 2: Temperature dependence of the mixed-CDW state.
Fig. 3: Electronic structure of the mixed-CDW phase.
Fig. 4: Dynamic phase transition with two competing order parameters in 1T-TaS2.

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Data availability

The X-ray scattering data, STM data and resistivity data generated in this study are available via Zenodo at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15374771 (ref. 69).

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Acknowledgements

A.d.l.T. acknowledges a helpful conversation with C. Ropers, M. Buchold, Y. Cao, M. Claassen, S. Gerber and D. M. Kennes. Work performed at Brown University by A.d.l.T., Q.W. and K.W.P. was supported by the US Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences (Award No. DE-SC0021223). P.M.V., S.M.H. and D.B. acknowledge support from the National Science Foundation (NSF; Award Nos. DMR 2226097 and DMR 2226098) and the Mason Graduate Division’s Presidential Scholarship Program. G.A.F. and Y.M. gratefully acknowledge support from the NSF (Award No. DMR-2114825). G.A.F. acknowledges support from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. Research conducted at the Center for High-Energy X-ray Science is supported by the NSF (BIO, ENG and MPS Directorates; Award Nos DMR-1829070 and DMR-2342336).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA

    Alberto de la Torre, Yasamin Masoumi & Gregory A. Fiete

  2. Quantum Materials and Sensing Institute, Northeastern University, Burlington, MA, USA

    Alberto de la Torre & Gregory A. Fiete

  3. Department of Physics, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA

    Alberto de la Torre, Qiaochu Wang & Kemp W. Plumb

  4. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA

    Benjamin Campbell, Jake V. Riffle & Shawna M. Hollen

  5. Department of Physics and Astronomy, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA

    Dushyanthini Balasundaram & Patrick M. Vora

  6. Quantum Science and Engineering Center, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA

    Dushyanthini Balasundaram & Patrick M. Vora

  7. CHESS, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA

    Jacob P. C. Ruff

  8. Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA

    Gregory A. Fiete

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Contributions

A.d.l.T and Q.W. synthesized and characterized the single-crystal samples. A.d.l.T., Q.W., K.W.P. and J.P.C.R. performed the high-dynamic-range X-ray scattering measurements. All X-ray experimental data were analysed and interpreted by A.d.l.T. and K.W.P. B.C., J.V.R. and S.M.H. performed and analysed the STM and STS measurements. D.B. and P.M.V. performed the cryo-Raman experiments. Y.M. and G.A.F. performed the Landau–Ginzburg free-energy calculations. A.d.l.T. and. K.W.P. wrote the manuscript with input from all co-authors.

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Correspondence to Alberto de la Torre or Kemp W. Plumb.

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Extended data

Extended Data Fig. 1 Cooling rate dependence of the mixed-CDW state.

a Cooling rate simulations and reciprocal space maps and CDW state schematic b-d for three different scenarios: b slow cool from 400 K, c quench from 300 K, and d, quench from 400 K. Only the third case shown in d results in the emergence of the mixed CDW state.

Extended Data Fig. 2 Evidence for a two-domain NC-CDW phase.

a. Reciprocal space maps parallel to the [HK0] plane (δL = .5, L = 0) at T= 300 K for an as-grown sample. b. Reciprocal space maps parallel to the [HK0] plane (δL = .5, L = 0) at T= 300 K after a quench. Red and blue markers highlight the original NC-CDW and the second set of satellite peaks that emerge after the quench, respectively. Green dashed lines highlight the a* and b* directions. c. Reciprocal space map parallel to the [H0L] plane for the as-grown sample (δK =.15, K= 0). d. Reciprocal space map parallel to the [H0L] plane for the quenched sample (δK =.15, K= 0). Red and blue arrows point to two sets of out-of-plane Bragg peaks corresponding to the NC-CDW. The L dependence and central value of these peaks are different than those seen in the mixed phase sample for the H- CDW phase.

Extended Data Fig. 3 Temperature dependence of the CDW Bragg peaks.

Circular and square markers show the temperature dependence in cooling (blue) and warming (red) of two CDW Bragg peaks of opposite chirality in quenched samples of 1T-TaS2.

Extended Data Fig. 4 Chiral domains in STM.

a STM data with atomic resolution in two domains with different chirality in Fig. 3b. b The high-intensity fundamental peaks (qlattice) are highlighted in blue. The satellite peaks (qCDW, yellow) are associated with the mixed-CDW phase.The resolution of our STM measurements prevents us from resolving the difference in the magnitude and in-plane rotation of ∣q∣ between the C-CDW and H-CDW.

Extended Data Fig. 5 Raman characterization.

Unpolarized Raman spectra in a quenched (red) and as-grown (blue) at 5 K.

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de la Torre, A., Wang, Q., Masoumi, Y. et al. Dynamic phase transition in 1T-TaS2 via a thermal quench. Nat. Phys. 21, 1267–1274 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-025-02938-1

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