Gaps tunable by electrostatic gates in strained graphene

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that strain-induced pseudomagnetic fields combined with electrostatic gating in graphene can create and tune energy gaps, enabling novel electronic device designs.

Contribution

It introduces a method to generate and control energy gaps in strained graphene via electrostatic gates, leveraging the coupling of pseudomagnetic fields and scalar potentials.

Findings

Significant energy gaps can form due to a Haldane state in strained graphene.

The energy gap is tunable through electrostatic gates.

The study applies to common experimental strain geometries like superlattices and wrinkles.

Abstract

We show that when the pseudomagnetic fields created by long wavelength deformations are appropriately coupled with a scalar electric potential, a significant energy gap can emerge due to the formation of a Haldane state. Ramifications of this physical effect are examined through the study of various strain geometries commonly seen in experiments, such as strain superlattices and wrinkled suspended graphene. Of particular technological importance, we consider setup where this gap can be tunable through electrostatic gates, allowing for the design of electronic devices not realizable with other materials.