Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 4, 2026

Characterization of Ultra-fine Grained and Nanocrystalline Materials Using Transmission Kikuchi Diffraction
Published on: April 1, 2017
Fundamental differences in mechanical behavior between two types of crystals at the nanoscale
Steffen Brinckmann1, Ju-Young Kim, Julia R Greer
1Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology, 1200 E California Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
Abstract:
We present differences in the mechanical behavior of nanoscale gold and molybdenum single crystals. A significant strength increase is observed as the size is reduced to 100 nm. Both nanocrystals exhibit discrete strain bursts during plastic deformation. We postulate that they arise from significant differences in the dislocation behavior. Dislocation starvation is the predominant mechanism of plasticity in nanoscale fcc crystals, while junction formation and hardening characterize bcc plasticity. A statistical analysis of strain bursts is performed as a function of size and compared with stochastic models.
Related Concept Videos
Imperfections in Crystal Structure: Point, Line and Plane Defects
Molecular and Ionic Solids
Molecular Solids
Molecular crystalline solids, such as ice, sucrose (table sugar), and iodine, are solids that are composed of neutral molecules as their constituent units. These molecules are held together by weak intermolecular forces such as London dispersion forces, dipole-dipole interactions, or hydrogen bonds, which...
Structures of Solids
X-ray Crystallography
Diffraction
Diffraction is the change in the direction of travel experienced by an electromagnetic wave when it encounters a physical barrier whose dimensions are comparable to those of the wavelength of the light. X-rays are electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths about as long as the distance between neighboring...
Determination of Crystal Structures
Polymer Classification: Crystallinity
Crystalline domains are the regions where polymer chains are aligned in an orderly manner and held together in proximity by intermolecular forces. For example, chains in the crystalline domains of polyethylene and nylon are bound together by van der Waals...

