Local Nanostrain Engineering of Monolayer MoS₂ Using Atomic Force Microscopy-Based Thermomechanical Nanoindentation

Strain engineering in two-dimensional materials (2DMs) has important application potential for electronic and optoelectronic devices. However, achieving precise spatial control, adjustable sizing, and permanent strain with nanoscale resolution remains challenging. Herein, a thermomechanical nanoindentation method is introduced, inspired by skin edema caused by mosquito bites, which can induce localized nanostrain and bandgap modulation in monolayer molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) transferred onto a poly(methyl methacrylate) film utilizing a heated atomic force microscopy nanotip. Via adjustment of the machining parameters, the strains of MoS₂ are manipulated, achieving an average strain of ≤2.6% on the ring-shaped expansion structure. The local bandgap of MoS₂ is spatially modulated using three types of nanostructures. Among them, the nanopit has the largest range of bandgap regulation, with a substantial change of 56 meV. These findings demonstrate the capability of the proposed method to create controllable and reproducible nanostrains in 2DMs.