Strain-gradient effect on energy bands in bent ZnO microwires.

The table of contents image illustrates the strain-gradient effect on the optical-electronic properties in a bent ZnO microwire, with a much stronger red-shift on the outer tensile side than a blue-shift on the inner compressive side. The low temperature cathodoluminescence cross-sectional scanning spectra on the strain-neutral middle-plane are highlighted by thicker black lines, which clearly shows a strain-gradient induced red-shift.