Thickness-dependent anisotropic superconductivity and charge density wave in ZrTe3 down to the two-dimensional limit

Charge density waves (CDW) accompanied by superconductivity (SC) is an enduring topic in the field of condensed matter physics for it involves exotic physical properties and quantum states. This paper presents a competitive relationship between the anisotropic SC and CDW down to the two-dimensional limit in ZrTe₃, a quasi-one-dimensional material. It reveals an unusual nonmonotonic evolution versus thickness and suggests a complicated superconducting mechanism in this compound.