Fermi Velocity Modulation in Graphene by Strain Engineering

Using full-potential density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we found a small asymmetry in the Fermi velocity of electrons and holes in graphene. These Fermi velocity values and their average were found to decrease with increasing in-plane homogeneous biaxial strain; the variation in Fermi velocity is quadratic in strain. The results, which can be verified by Landau level spectroscopy and quantum capacitance measurements of bi-axially strained graphene, promise potential applications in graphene based straintronics and flexible electronics.