Pressure-induced structural evolution with suppression of the charge density wave state and dimensional crossover in CeTe3

We present the structural evolution and electrical transport properties in quasi -two-dimensional layered CeTe3 under high pressures by employing Raman spectra, synchrotron x-ray diffraction (XRD), and electrical resistance measurements. Our Raman and XRD experiments reveal the suppression of charge density wave (CDW) occurring via two distinct ways at -6 GPa in different hydrostatic environments, namely, incommensurate -tocommensurate transition via the distortion of the Te sheets at quasihydrostatic condition and the transformation from the superlattice of the Cmcm structure to an intermediate phase (HP I) with lower symmetric structure at nonhydrostatic condition. The electrical transport measurements show the emergence of the superconductivity (SC) at -3.3 GPa after suppression of CDW and antiferromagnetism. Upon further compression up to -90 GPa, the low-pressure layered structure transforms into a high-pressure phase (HP II) with three-dimensional structure, which is tentatively attributed to the Pmmn symmetry and accompanied by a new superconducting behavior. Our discoveries shed light on the distinct mechanisms in pressure -induced suppression of CDW and transformation from the layered to three-dimensional structure in the rare-earth tritelluride family.