Observation of two separate charge density wave transitions in Gd2Te5 via transmission electron microscopy and high-resolution X-ray diffraction

Gd2Te5 is a layered material consisting of alternating single and double square planar Te sheets. At room temperature the material hosts a complex lattice modulation characterized by multiple in-plane wavevectors. Diffraction measurements performed via transmission electron microscopy and high-resolution X-ray scattering reveal two distinct transitions at Tc1 = 410(3) and Tc2 = 532(3) K, associated with an on-axis incommensurate lattice modulation and an off-axis commensurate lattice modulation respectively. Our results show that the two lattice modulations are separate in origin but that there is some coupling between them.