Applying uniaxial strain to graphene devices fabricated on flexible substrates*

Strain engineering is a promising avenue for tuning the band structure and electronic properties of two-dimensional materials. We report progress toward applying uniaxial strain to bilayer graphene devices with the ultimate goal of studying their magnetic properties using scanning superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) microscopy. We fabricate graphene devices on flexible polyimide substrates and use a spring-based strain apparatus [1] to apply uniaxial strain by compressing or stretching the substrate, achieving a planar geometry compatible with scanning probe microscopy. We use Raman microscopy to monitor changes in the Raman peaks of graphene in response to uniaxial strain. Finally, we discuss the effects of strain on the band structure of bilayer graphene and outline our plans for studying this system using scanning SQUID microscopy.

[1] V. Sunko et al. npj Quantum Mater. 4, 46 (2019).