Strained silicon

Strained silicon is a type of material that is used to make computer chips run faster and more efficiently.

Think of it like a trampoline. When you jump on a trampoline, the fabric stretches and makes it easier for you to jump higher. In the same way, when you stretch silicon, it becomes better at conducting electricity.

This stretching is done by growing the silicon on top of another material (usually silicon germanium) that has a slightly different size and shape. This causes the silicon to become slightly stretched and makes it better at conducting electricity.

By making the silicon better at conducting electricity, the computer chips made with strained silicon can run faster and use less power, which is really important for things like smartphones and laptops.

So in summary, strained silicon is like a trampoline for computer chips. It's a special type of material that helps make the chips run faster and more efficiently.