Elucidating 2D Charge‐Density‐Wave Atomic Structure in an MX–Chain by the 3D‐ΔPair Distribution Function Method

The front cover artwork is provided by Prof. Masahiro Yamashita's group at Tohoku University and designed by Dr. Laurent Guérin at University of Rennes 1. The image illustrates that the atomic structure of a 2D charge density wave can be revealed although the planes associated to this local 2D order are randomly stacked preventing the use of conventional structure determination techniques. Read the full text of the Research Article at 10.1002/cphc.202100857. “Based on the 3D‐ΔPDF method, we studied the atomic structure that stabilizes a 2D charge density wave in an MX‐chain. By measuring with state‐of‐the‐art instruments diffuse scattering in single crystal we have successfully identified the interaction responsible for the stabilization of this 2D order but also why this order is not preserved from one plane to another. We demonstrate that 3D‐ΔPDF method has an outstanding capability of determining the structure of local order in highly disorder crystals…” This and more about the story behind the front cover can be found in the Research Article at 10.1002/cphc.202100857.