"The aim of this project is to develop a new class of mechanically tunable quantum devices based on graphene. Adopting an innovative and interdisciplinary approach grounded on both engineering-based microsystem technology and low-temperature solid-state physics, we aim at gaining control over the mechanical and electromechanical properties of graphene nano-membranes and suspended graphene nanostructures, in the low and high strain regime.
The main motivation for going in this direction is the expectation that being able to access both the electronic and the mechanical degrees of freedom of graphene will allow to explore new regimes of quantum physics, and lead to potentially important technological applications. Graphene is in fact a unique platform for the development of a new generation of quantum electromechanical systems, not only because of its high carrier mobility, high elasticity and unrivaled material strength, but also because its electronic properties depend sensitively on local strain and mechanical deformations, allowing to envision revolutionary device concepts.
This is a timely and highly explorative high-gain/high-risk research project. Its successful accomplishment will set the basis of a novel graphene-based microsystem technology. The project is expected to have an important and far-reaching impact in the fields of nanosystems and graphene physics, not only in terms of potential applications, but also giving an important contribution to the investigation of the fundamental properties of this unique material."