Emergence of charge density wave domain walls network in Pt doped TiSe2*

Charge density wave (CDW) incommensuration in the TiSe2 family proceeds through the formation of domain walls (DWs). Previous scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) studies on Cu intercalated TiSe2 have shown that DWs host an extra population of electrons and might play an important role in the emergence of superconductivity. Here we report a low temperature STM study of Pt-doped TiSe2. A network of nanometer-thick DWs is observed and STM spectra reveal local inhomogeneity of the electronic properties which results in the emergence of pseudogaps of different size. In contrast to Cu intercalation, Pt substitution creates a network of 1D channels of low energy transport which subtract electrons from the bulk enhancing correlation effects. The interplay between electron correlation and disorder induced by DWs might be fundamental for the metal to insulator transition reported by previous transport measurements.