Stretching, Bending and Breaking Freestanding Oxide Membranes

The ability to create and manipulate materials in two-dimensional (2D) form has repeatedly had transformative impact on science and technology. In parallel with the exfoliation and stacking of intrinsically layered crystals, the atomic-scale thin film growth of complex materials has enabled the creation of artificial 2D heterostructures with novel functionality and emergent phenomena, as seen in perovskite oxides. We present a general method to create freestanding complex oxide membranes and heterostructures using epitaxial water-soluble buffer layers, with millimeter-scale lateral dimensions and nanometer-scale thickness. This facilitates many new opportunities we are beginning to explore; here we will focus on the mechanical response of these membranes and the ability to tune their properties by bending and stretching.