Suppressing nematicity in FeSe through exfoliation

ORAL

Abstract

The role of nematicity in iron-based superconductors has served as a long-standing challenge regarding how to understand their unique electronic features. How nematicity influence superconductivity and quantum criticality remains an unanswered question. Therefore, a method to control nematicity in iron-based superconductors can provide a pathway to further explore their competing phases. Here, we demonstrate that simple mechanical exfoliation can suppress nematicity in FeSe, an iron-based superconductor. From Raman spectroscopy and transport experiment, we show a clear absence of nematic order in thin FeSe flakes, despite being present in bulk crystals. This shows exfoliation can engineer collective phenomena in FeSe and provide a platform to further explore emergent physics.

*Research was supported by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research under award numbers FA2386-24-1-4071 (transport measurements by W.L. and supervision by K.S.B.) and FA9550-24-1-0110 (Raman experiments by K.Y.K and B.S). The fabrication efforts by M.G. and G.N. were conducted with support from The National Science Foundation, Award No. DMR-2310895.

Presenters

  • Kyung-Mo Kim

    • Boston College

Authors

  • Kyung-Mo Kim

    • Boston College
  • Wenyao Liu

    • Boston College
  • Gabriel Natale

    • Boston College
  • Michael Geiwitz

    • Boston College
  • Stephen D. Funni

    • Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Cornell University
    • Cornell University
  • Birender Singh

    • Boston College
  • Takasada Shibauchi

    • Univ. of Tokyo
    • University of Tokyo
    • Univ of Tokyo-Kashiwanoha
  • Michal Papaj

    • University of Houston
    • University of California, Berkeley
  • Judy J Cha

    • Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Cornell University
    • Cornell University
  • Kenneth Stephen Burch

    • Boston College