Dynamic control of designer strain distributions in two-dimensional materials for spintronics

Strain engineering of two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors enables significant modulation of the lattice structure via mechanical deformation, achieving strain magnitudes much larger than those attainable in bulk semiconductors. Local strain engineering is quickly gaining significant attention due to its nanophotonics, spintronics, and quantum information science applications. However, the precise control required to achieve “designer” strain distributions remains constrained by existing methods. In this talk, we will introduce a new strain engineering platform to investigate complex strain distributions by transferring 2D materials flakes onto nanostructures patterned in close proximity, enabling the study of a variety of strain distributions within a single flake. We will also report dynamic local strain engineering of suspended 2D material flakes by using a novel micromechanical spring with designed nanoscale probes for inducing symmetry-controlled localized strain. The presented research establishes a new platform for spintronics.