Stretching metals at the atomic level allows researchers to create important materials for quantum applications

https://phys.org/news/2023-05-metals-atomic-important-materials-quantum.html

"quantum computing, microelectronics, sensors, energy catalysis, and battery and fuel cell chemical reactions... navigating material atomic synthesis harnessing epitaxial strain... incorporating a concept called "epitaxial strain"—effectively stretching the metals at the atomic level simplifies oxidation process of these stubborn metals... metal oxides out of stubborn metals in ultra-high vacuum atmospheres, which has been a longstanding problem... stretching material at atomic scale improve performance"