Scanning tunneling microscopy of 1T–TaSe2 at room temperature

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Abstract
We studied charge density waves on 1T–TaSe2 using scanning tunneling microscopy at room temperature in air. The images reveal three distinct types of the charge density wave vertices, showing triangular, rhombic and hexagonal atomic modulations. The various vertex structures cannot be explained by only one type of periodic lattice distortion namely the ‘‘Star-of-David’’ cluster unit. Two other cluster units besides the ‘‘Star-of-David’’ are proposed, based on the assumption that the maxima of the charge density waves can have different positions on the triangular atomic lattice. We also observed arrangements of the charge density wave lattice which we explain by simultaneous multi tip imaging and switching between different tunneling tips.