Unveiling the orbital-selective electronic band reconstruction through the structural phase transition in TaTe2

Tantalum ditelluride (TaTe2) belongs to the family of layered transition metal dichalcogenides but exhibits a unique structural phase transition at around 170 K that accompanies the rearrangement of the Ta atomic network from a “ribbon chain” to a “butterfly-like” pattern. While multiple mechanisms including Fermi surface nesting and chemical bonding instabilities have been intensively discussed, the origin of this transition remains elusive. Here we investigate the electronic structure of single-crystalline TaTe2 with a particular focus on its modifications through the phase transition, by employing core-level and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy combined with first-principles calculations. Temperature-dependent core-level spectroscopy demonstrates a splitting of the Ta 4f core-level spectra through the phase transition indicative of the Ta-dominated electronic state reconstruction. Low-energy electronic state measurements further reveal an unusual kink-like band reconstruction occurring at the Brillouin zone boundary, which cannot be explained by Fermi surface nesting or band-folding effects. On the basis of the orbital-projected band calculations, this band reconstruction is mainly attributed to the modifications of specific Ta 5d states, namely, the dXY orbitals (the ones elongating along the ribbon chains) at the center Ta sites of the ribbon chains. The present results highlight the strong orbital-dependent electronic state reconstruction through the phase transition in this system and provide fundamental insights towards understanding complex electron-lattice-bond coupled phenomena. Published by the American Physical Society 2024