Enhanced superconductivity upon weakening of charge density wave transport in 2H-TaS2 in the two-dimensional limit

Layered transition-metal dichalcogenides that host coexisting charge-density wave (CDW) and superconducting orders provide ideal systems for exploring the effects of dimensionality on correlated electronic phases. Dimensionality has a profound effect on both superconductivity and CDW instabilities. Here we report a substantial enhancement of the superconducting Tc to 3.4 K for 2H-TaS2 in the monolayer limit, compared to 0.8 K in the bulk. In addition, the transport signature of a CDW phase transition vanishes in the two-dimensional limit. In our analysis of electronic and vibrational properties of this material, we show that a reduction of the CDW amplitude results in a substantial increase of the density of states at the Fermi energy, which can boost Tc by an amount similar to that seen in experiment. Our results indicate competition between CDW order and superconductivity in ultrathin 2H-TaS2 down to the monolayer limit, providing insight toward understanding correlated electronic phases in reduced dimensions.