  Transition-metal dichalcogenides containing tellurium anions show remarkable
charge-lattice modulated structures and prominent interlayer character. Using
cryogenic scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), we map the
atomic-scale structures of the high temperature (HT) and low temperature (LT)
modulated phases in 1T'-TaTe$_{2}$. At HT, we directly show in-plane metal
distortions which form trimerized clusters and staggered, three-layer stacking.
In the LT phase at 93 K, we visualize an additional trimerization of Ta sites
and subtle distortions of Te sites by extracting structural information from
contrast modulations in plan-view STEM data. Coupled with density functional
theory calculations and image simulations, this approach opens the door for
atomic-scale visualizations of low temperature phase transitions and complex
displacements in a variety of layered systems.
