Applied and fundamental studies of vibrating 2D membranes

This thesis encompasses both applied and fundamental studies of suspended van der Waals materials. Chapters 1 and 2 give an introduction to the field of 2D materials and some of the critical methods which facilitate the study of the suspended structures. In Chapters 3 and 4 we focus on the applications of graphene in barometric pressure sensors and develop a technique to improve their performance by hermetically sealing them. In Chapters 5 and 6 we use the mechanical resonance as a probe to study the magnetic and electronic phase transitions of suspended van der Waals materials.