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arXiv · 2508.01241

Sliding two-dimensional superconductivity and charge-density-wave state in a bulk crystal

Abstract

Superconductivity in the two-dimensional (2D) limit is a fertile ground for exotic quantum phenomena-many of which remain elusive in their 3D counterparts. While studies of 2D superconductivity have predominantly focused on mono- or few-layer systems, we demonstrate an alternative route-interlayer sliding in bulk crystals. Through a precisely controlled growth strategy, we engineer interlayer sliding in bulk 3R-NbSe2, deliberately disrupting [001] mirror symmetry and drastically suppressing interlayer coupling. Remarkably, this structural manipulation stabilizes Ising-type superconductivity coexisting with an unconventional charge-density-wave (CDW) state akin to that of monolayer 2H-NbSe2. The sliding phase exhibits a pronounced suppression of the upper critical field at low temperatures, revealing a delicate competition between Ising and Rashba spin-orbit coupling (SOC) in the globally noncentrosymmetric lattice. Intriguingly, the superconducting state displays two-fold symmetry, a signature that may arise from asymmetric SOC or a multi-component pairing order parameter. Our work establishes interlayer sliding as a symmetry-breaking tool to promote 2D superconductivity in bulk materials-without resorting to extrinsic intercalation or doping. More broadly, this approach sets a paradigm for unlocking hidden quantum states in layered materials, offering a new dimension in design of quantum matter.

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Xiangqi Liu, Chen Xu, Jing Jiang, Haonan Wang, Shaobo Liu, Gan Liu, Ziyi Zhu, Jian Yuan, Wei Xia, Lianbing Wen, Jiawei Luo, Yixuan Luo, Xia Wang, Na Yu, Peihong Cheng, Leiming Chen, Rui Zhou, Jun Li, Yulin Chen, Shiwei Wu, Ke Qu, Wei Li, Guangming Zhang, Chungang Duan, Jianhao Chen, Xiaoxiang Xi, Zhenzhong Yang, Kai Liu, Yanfeng Guo. 2025-08-02. Sliding two-dimensional superconductivity and charge-density-wave state in a bulk crystal. https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.01241

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