Towards observation of pseudo-magnetic fields in suspended graphene devices

We exploit the difference in the thermal contraction coefficients within a device structure to create the strain patterns required to generate a homogeneous pseudo-magnetic field in a suspended graphene membrane. The interplay between supported and suspended metallic contacts creates deformations upon cooling, producing the desired non-uniform strain in the graphene membrane. This work can easily be adapted to produce other strain configurations, providing a route to strain engineering the electrical properties of graphene and other two-dimensional crystals, an area with a large body of theoretical work, but thus far little experimental progress.