Novel effects of strains in graphene and other two dimensional materials

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent theoretical and experimental advances on how strain affects the electronic, optical, and structural properties of graphene and other two-dimensional materials, highlighting new phenomena and interdisciplinary approaches.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of recent developments in understanding strain effects in 2D materials, integrating concepts from condensed matter physics, soft matter, and quantum field theory.

Findings

Strain influences electronic transport and spin-orbit coupling in graphene.

Anharmonic effects can alter the structural properties of 2D materials.

Strain-induced phenomena are also significant in other 2D compounds like dichalcogenides.

Abstract

The analysis of the electronic properties of strained or lattice deformed graphene combines ideas from classical condensed matter physics, soft matter, and geometrical aspects of quantum field theory (QFT) in curved spaces. Recent theoretical and experimental work shows the influence of strains in many properties of graphene not considered before, such as electronic transport, spin-orbit coupling, the formation of Moir\'e patterns, optics, ... There is also significant evidence of anharmonic effects, which can modify the structural properties of graphene. These phenomena are not restricted to graphene, and they are being intensively studied in other two dimensional materials, such as the metallic dichalcogenides. We review here recent developments related to the role of strains in the structural and electronic properties of graphene and other two dimensional compounds.