Controlling the Charge Density Wave of VSe2 Containing Heterostructure

Exploring the properties of layered materials as a function of thickness has largely been limited to semiconducting materials as thin layers of metallic materials tend to oxidize readily in atmosphere. This makes it challenging to further understand properties such as superconductivity and charge density waves as a function of layer thickness that are unique to metallic compounds. This dissertation discusses a set of materials that use the modulated elemental reactants technique to isolate 1 to 3 layers of VSe2 in a superlattice in order to understand the role of adjacent layers and VSe2 thickness on the charge density wave in VSe2. The modulated elemental reactants technique was performed on a custom built physical vapor deposition to prepare designed precursors that upon annealing will self assemble into the desired heterostructure. First, a series of (PbSe)1+sigma(VSe2)n for n = 1 -- 3 were synthesized to explore if the charge density wave enhancement in the isovalent (SnSe)1.15VSe2 was unique to this particular heterostructure. Electrical resistivity measurements show a large change in resistivity compared to room temperature resistivity for the n = 1 heterostructure. The overall change in resistivity was larger than what was observed in the analogous SnSe heterostructure. v A second study was conducted on (BiSe)1+sigmaVSe2 to further understand the effect of charge transfer on the charge density wave of VSe2. It was reported that BiSe forms a distorted rocksalt layer with antiphase boundaries. The resulting electrical resistivity showed a severely dampened charge density wave when compared to both analogous SnSe and PbSe containing heterostructures but was similar to bulk. Finally, (SnSe2)1+sigmaVSe2 was prepared to further isolate the VSe2 layers and explore interfacial effects on the charge density wave by switching from a distorted rocksalt structure to 1T-SnSe2. SnSe2 is semiconductor that is used to prevent adjacent VSe2 layers from coupling and thereby enhancing the quasi two-dimensionality of the VSe2 layer. Electrical characterization shows behavior similar to that of SnSe and PbSe containing heterostructures. However, structural characterization shows the presence of a SnSe impurity that is likely influencing the overall temperature dependent resistivity. This dissertation includes previously published and unpublished co-authored materials.