An Automated System for Strain Engineering and Straintronics of 2D Materials

This work presents an automated three-point bending apparatus that can be used to study strain engineering and straintronics in 2D materials. This work benchmarks the system by reporting reproducible strain tuned micro-reflectance, Raman, and photoluminescence spectra for monolayer molybdenum disulfide (MoS2). These results are in good agreement with reported literature using conventional bending apparatus. This work further utilizes the system to automate strain investigations of straintronic devices by measuring the piezoresistive effect and the strain effect on photoresponse in an MoS2 electrical device. The details of the construction of the straightforward system are given and it is anticipated that it can be easily implemented for study of strain engineering and straintronics in a wide variety of 2D material systems.

Automated summary

This work introduces an automated three-point bending apparatus for studying strain engineering and straintronics in 2D materials. The system is benchmarked by obtaining reproducible strain tuned micro-reflectance, Raman, and photoluminescence spectra for monolayer MoS2, which agree well with literature results. Additionally, the system is used to investigate the piezoresistive effect and strain effect on photoresponse in an MoS2 electrical device. The construction details of the system are provided, and it is anticipated to be easily implemented for studying strain engineering and straintronics in various 2D material systems.