Size effects on supercooling phenomena in strongly correlated electron systems: IrTe${}_2$ and $\theta$-(BEDT-TTF)${}_2$RbZn(SCN)${}_4$

Abstract

We report that the sample miniaturization of first-order-phase-transition bulk systems causes a greater degree of supercooling. From a theoretical perspective, the size effects can be rationalized by considering two mechanisms: (i) the nucleation is a rare and stochastic event, and thus, its rate is correlated with the volume and/or surface area of a given sample; (ii) when the sample size decreases, the dominant heterogeneous nucleation sites that play a primary role for relatively large samples are annealed out. We experimentally verified the size effects on the supercooling phenomena for two different types of strongly correlated electron systems: the transition-metal dichalcogenide IrTe${}_2$ and the organic conductor $\theta$-(BEDT-TTF)${}_2$RbZn(SCN)${}_4$. The origin of the size effects considered in this study does not depend on microscopic details of the material; therefore, they may often be involved in the first-order-transition behavior of small-volume specimens.

arXiv comment8 pages, 6 figures, Selected for Editors' Suggestions

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Cited by in corpus (5)

• Superconductivity emerging from a stripe charge order in IrTe2 nanoflakes
• Kinetic approach to superconductivity hidden behind a competing order
• Slow steady flow of a skyrmion lattice in a confined geometry probed by resistance narrow-band noise
• Real-space observation of emergent complexity of phase evolution in micrometer-sized IrTe${}_2$ crystals
• Comparison of the charge-crystal and charge-glass state in geometrically frustrated organic conductors studied by fluctuation spectroscopy