Two-dimensional (2D) materials, particularly transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), exhibit remarkable properties such as 2D superconductivity, magnetism, tunable bandgaps, and correlated states. The ability to tailor their band structure through functionalization, substrate interaction, heterostructures, intercalation or strain engineering is crucial for diverse applications. Owing to their atomic thinness and exceptional mechanical flexibility, 2D materials are particularly promising for strain engineering, enabling potential uses in sensors, electrodes, coatings, optoelectronics, spintronics, and straintronics.

In this talk, I will present an overview of my experimental work on strain effects in 2D materials. I will demonstrate several approaches we used to induce and control strain in graphene and monolayer TMDs: (i) modification of substrate interactions via native atom intercalation (self-intercalation), (ii) growth on pre-patterned substrates, and (iii) transfer onto structured surfaces. I will further show how we utilize atomically resolved scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) and spectroscopy (STS), along with complementary nanoscale techniques available at the Institute of Physics—such as atomic force microscopy (AFM), Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM), and nano-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (nano-FTIR)—to correlate the presence of strain with corresponding changes in the electronic band structure at atomic and nanometre scales. Finally, I will highlight recent results on both TMDs and other van der Waals materials, outline near-future plans within the newly approved HRZZ Installation Grant, and briefly discuss long-term perspectives.

Nastupno predavanje će se održati u predavaonici u 1. krilu Instituta za fiziku.

Predavanje ćete moći pratiti i putem Zoom-a:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/5081440931

Meeting ID: 508 144 0931

Seminar hosts: Juraj Krsnik i Borna Radatović