In-situ strain engineering of van der Waals materials and its applications

Van der Waals (vdW) materials have attracted extensive research interests in the field of strain engineering due to their unique structure and excellent performance. By altering the atomic lattice and electronic structure, strain can modulate the novel physical properties of vdW materials and induce the generation of new quantum states, ultimately realizing high-performance electronic devices based on new principles. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of various experimental strategies aimed at inducing in-situ strain, encompassing the bending deformation of flexible substrates, mechanical stretching of microelectromechanical systems and electrodeformation of piezoelectric substrates. Then, we outline the recent progresses of in-situ strain-modulated magnetism, superconductivity and topological properties in vdW materials, as well as the development of strain-related device applications, such as intelligent strain sensors and strain-programmable probabilistic computing. Finally, we examine the prevailing challenges and offer insights into prospective opportunities within the field of strain engineering.