Charge density wave in the intermetallic oxides R 5 Pb 3 O ( R = La and Ce )

Charge density wave (CDW) transitions can be associated with electron-phonon coupling. Here, based on transport and diffraction measurements, and supported by theoretical calculations, the authors demonstrate that the R₅Pb₃O (R=La, Ce) family hosts an electron-phonon coupling-driven CDW at low temperatures. The high-temperature structure contains linear La-Pb chains, and the CDW is associated with the formation of La-Pb pairs within these chains. The presence of a low-temperature CDW transition is suggested by anomalously large thermal ellipses associated with the La atoms in the chains, potentially offering a means of searching for potential CDW compounds.