Synthesis and characterization of copper intercalated ZrTe3

Abstract Electrochemical copper intercalation in ZrTe3 yields the new metallic ternary phase CuxZrTe3 with a maximum stoichiometry of x = 1.9. The charge is balanced by filling the σ∗ antibonding Te p bands, as monitored by XANES spectroscopy. The reaction is accompanied by an increase in the a lattice dimension of 9%. This observation is explained by theoretical calculations.