Spin Defects in Hexagonal Boron Nitride as 2D Strain Sensors
ABSTRACT Lattice deformation is a powerful way to engineer the properties of 2D materials, making their precise measurement an important challenge for both fundamental science and technological applications. Here, we demonstrate that boron‐vacancy () color centers in hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) enable quantitative strain sensing with sub‐micrometer spatial resolution. Using this approach, we precisely quantify the strain‐induced shift of the Raman mode in a multilayer hBN flake under uniaxial stress, establishing centers as a new tool for strain metrology in van der Waals heterostructures. Beyond strain sensing, our work also highlights the unique multimodal sensing functionalities offered by centers, which will be valuable for future studies of strain‐engineered 2D materials.
Authors
- Zhao Mu
- B. Gil
- V. Jacques
- G. Seine (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-8753-2599)
- Jules Fraunié
- Zhaowei Zhang
- Cédric Robert
- Guillaume Cassabois
Institutions
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (FR)
- Northwestern Polytechnical University (CN)
- Université Fédérale de Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées (FR)
- Institut Universitaire de France (FR)
- Dongguan University of Technology (CN)
- Laboratoire Charles Coulomb (FR)
- Zhejiang University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Advanced Functional Materials
- Published
- 2026-02-03
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202530638
- Primary Topic
- 2D Materials and Applications
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Science Foundation
- Equipex
- Agence Nationale de la Recherche
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Zhejiang University
- Région Occitanie Pyrénées-Méditerranée
- Guangdong Provincial Pearl River Talents Program
- Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities
- Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangdong Province