Uniaxial strain-induced phase transition in the 2D topological semimetal IrTe2

Strain is ubiquitous in solid-state materials, but despite its fundamental importance and technological relevance, leveraging externally applied strain to gain control over material properties still infancy. In particular, the diverse phase transitions topological states two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) remains an open challenge. Here, we exploit uniaxial stabilize long-debated structural ground state of 2D semimetal IrTe$_2$, which hidden unstrained samples. Combined angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) data reveal strain-stabilized has a 6x1 periodicity undergoes Lifshitz transition, granting unprecedented spectroscopic access previously inaccessible type-II Dirac that dominate modified inter-layer hopping. Supported by density functional theory (DFT) calculations, show induces charge transfer strongly weakening Te bonds thus reshaping energetic landscape system favor phase. Our results highlight potential strain-engineered layered particularly context tuning behavior.