Control of electronic properties of molecular conductors by uniaxial strain

The modification and control of the electronic properties of molecular conductors and superconductors by uniaxial deformation of crystal structures are reviewed. In particular, the uniaxial strain method, where a crystal is compressed along any direction with no deformation in the transverse directions, and its application to many molecular conductors are described. The role of pressure application in the study of molecular conductors is discussed, followed by a brief review of pioneering studies of the uniaxial compression of conventional semiconductors and some molecular conductors.