The mechanical properties and test of a single ZnO nanorod inside scanning electron microscopy

The bending and tensile tests of the ZnO nanorods were carried out by controlling a force sensor and a nano-manipulator inside a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The force sensor was mounted on the nano-manipulator, was controlled with the nano-manipulate. The load response during the mechanical test for the ZnO nanorod was obtained by using the force sensor which is formed as a cantilever. The elastic modulus of the ZnO nanorods after the tensile and bending tests were calculated and compared. The elastic modulus of ZnO nanorods was depended on a size and an aspect ratio of the ZnO nanorods. The difference of the elastic modulus of ZnO nanorods was obtained with a difference of test methods performed along crystal facets direction of the ZnO nanorods. The average elastic modulus calculated after the tensile test was approximately 57.15 GPa. In case of the bending test, the average elastic modulus was approximately 29.37 GPa.