Layered materials, which have large electronic and mechanical anisotropy arising from a diverse chemical bonding have been investigated at high pressures, using confocal micro-Raman spectroscopy, synchrotron X-ray diffraction, and electric conductivity measurements. Due to their unique layered structure, they exhibit a wide range of intriguing optical and electronic properties, significant to various applications like catalysis, batteries, and electronic devices. The results show that shear plays an important role in the properties of these layered materials, such as tungsten disulfide (WS₂) and molybdenum trioxide (MoO₃). A shear-driven insulator-metal transition is observed in WS₂, and a series of structural phase transformations is observed in MoO₃.

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