New measurements explain how silicon and diamond achieve extreme reversible stretching
The discovery provides quantitative guidance for deep elastic strain engineering (DESE), paving the way for the development of next-generation electronic, optoelectronic and quantum devices.
The discovery provides quantitative guidance for deep elastic strain engineering (DESE), paving the way for the development of next-generation electronic, optoelectronic and quantum devices.
The short version
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- Despite the potential of DESE, the underlying deformation mechanisms of these covalent crystals have long remained elusive.
- The research team was the first to directly observe the pure lattice evolution of single-crystal silicon and diamond under tension at the atomic scale.
What happened
By precisely quantifying the resulting lattice strains, the researchers bridged macroscopic mechanical strain with microscopic lattice strain, establishing a physical foundation for the design of advanced semiconductor devices. The research team also includes PhD student Jiayi Li and postdoctoral fellow Dr.
Why it matters
Bulk covalent crystals have been widely considered "hard and brittle" materials, often undergoing brittle fracture during mechanical loading.
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