Metal-metal bonding, electronic excitations, and strong resonance Raman effect in 2D layered α-MoCl3

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Sandra Schiemenz - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Samuel Froeschke - , Chair of Experimental Solid State Physics, Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Marco Naumann - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Marco Rosenkranz - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Bernd Büchner - , Clusters of Excellence ct.qmat: Complexity and Topology in Quantum Matter, Chair of Experimental Solid State Physics, Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Andreas Koitzsch - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Martin Knupfer - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Silke Hampel - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Stanislav M. Avdoshenko - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Alexey A. Popov - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)

Abstract

Covalent bonding between transition metal atoms is a common phenomenon in honeycomb lattices of layered materials, which strongly affects their electronic and magnetic properties. This work presents a detailed spectroscopic study of α-MoCl3, 2D van der Waals material with covalently bonded Mo2 dimers, with a particular focus on the Mo-Mo bonding. Raman spectra of α-MoCl3 were studied with multiple excitation laser lines chosen in different parts of the absorption spectrum, while polarization measurements aided in the symmetry assignment of the observed modes. Furthermore, far-IR measurements and (Density Functional Theory) DFT phonon computations were performed to complete vibrational assignment. Polarized absorption, PL, and photoelectron spectroscopy supported by DFT calculations were employed to understand the consequences of the Mo-Mo bonding for the electronic structure and the localization/delocalization balance in d3-d3 interactions. A coupling of dimerization-related structural and electronic properties was revealed in the strong resonance Raman enhancement of the Mo-Mo stretching mode at 153 cm−1 when the excitation laser matched the electronic transition between σ-bonding and antibonding orbitals of the Mo2 dimer (σ → σ*). The deeper understanding of the metal-metal bonding and identification of the vibrational and electronic spectroscopic signatures of the dimerization will be of great use for the studies of electron delocalization in magnetic van der Waals materials.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number015004
Journal2D materials
Volume11
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2024
Peer-reviewedYes

Keywords

Keywords

  • dimerization, honeycomb lattice, metal-metal bond, optical excitation, Raman spectroscopy, resonance Raman effect