Scanning tunneling microscopy study of the charge order landscape in
Phys. Rev. B 114, 245115 – Published 14 October, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/x4xb-hrjh
Abstract
Recently, a chromium-based kagome metal has attracted significant attention due to the coexistence of density-wave-like (DW-like) orders and unconventional superconductivity; however, the nature of the DW-like orders remains elusive. Here, we perform a scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy study on multiple crystals and identify a robust charge order (CO) on the -terminated surface, alongside other region-dependent charge modulations. Through comparative analysis and structural simulations, we attribute the CO to the coherent superposition of the underlying Sb lattice, a charge stripe, and additional fine-structural distortions. Our density functional theory calculations on bulk suggest that, among the considered spin density wave (SDW) configurations, a SDW has the lowest energy, which will induce a charge modulation. This provides a possible bulk-derived scenario for the CO component. The possible factors influencing the region-dependent charge modulations are also discussed. Our study provides a microscopic picture for the abundant COs in and highlights the propensity of magnetic kagome metals to host multiple, nearly degenerate, and competing electronic orders.