Deintercalation onset in Hg_xTiS₂

The broad dark lines correspond to the Hg-layers and the narrow dark lines correspond to the empty host galleries, viewed parallel to the layers.

(a) Onset at the external-most guest layers.

(b) Onset at internal guest layers.

(c) Simultaneous onset of deintercalation at internal and external guest layers.

The white lines indicates the layers that have experienced deintercalation.
The white dotted line helps to identify the position of the surface step.