Thickness reduction has emerged as a powerful strategy in quantum materials research, often revealing novel phases that are absent in their bulk counterparts. Similarly, applying hydrostatic pressure enables the tuning of material properties, leading to emergent phenomena not observed under ambient conditions. Combining these two approaches—thickness control and hydrostatic pressure—offers a promising avenue for exploring and manipulating exotic quantum states.

In this presentation, I will discuss our efforts to integrate both techniques in the study of layered superconductors. In the case of FeSe, we demonstrate that pressure-induced magnetic ordering is significantly suppressed in thin flakes, shedding light on the mechanisms behind pressure-enhanced superconductivity in this material [1]. For kagome superconductor CsV₃Sb₅, we show that the ability to measure thin flakes under pressure enables the extraction of the superconducting gap as a function of pressure, allowing us to conclude the nodeless nature of the superconductivity regardless of the presence of time-reversal symmetry breaking [2]. Additionally, we track the evolution of the Fermi surface under pressure using Shubnikov–de Haas quantum oscillations [3].

I will conclude by outlining future experimental directions enabled by our methodology, highlighting its potential to deepen our understanding of quantum materials under combined external tuning parameters.

References:

[1] Xie et al. Nano Lett. 21, 9310 (2021)

[2] Zhang et al. Nano Lett. 23, 872 (2023)

[3] Zhang et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 121, e2322270121 (2024)