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Using shape anisotropy to toughen disordered nanoparticle assemblies.

Lei Zhang¹, Gang Feng, Zorana Zeravcic

¹Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States.

|August 27, 2013

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Disordered nanoparticle assemblies (DNAs) often fracture easily. Using anisotropic nanoparticles suppresses damaging shear bands, enhancing toughness without reducing strength in these materials.

Area of Science:

Materials Science
Nanotechnology
Mechanical Engineering

Background:

Disordered nanoparticle assemblies (DNAs) are crucial for energy, electronics, and sensing applications.
Their widespread use is limited by poor damage tolerance and low toughness, leading to fracture under small loads.
A lack of understanding of their mechanical behavior hinders efforts to improve toughness.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the mechanical behavior and failure mechanisms of disordered nanoparticle assemblies.
To identify strategies for enhancing the toughness of DNAs without compromising their strength.
To explore the role of nanoparticle shape anisotropy in mechanical properties.

Main Methods:

Experimental and computational analysis of disordered nanoparticle assemblies under mechanical load.

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Observation and characterization of shear band formation, a precursor to fracture.

Comparison of mechanical properties between assemblies of spherical and anisotropic nanoparticles.

Main Results:

Shear band formation, similar to metallic glasses, was observed in disordered spherical nanoparticle assemblies, preceding fracture.
Anisotropic nanoparticles significantly suppressed shear band formation.
Nanoparticle packings with anisotropic constituents exhibited enhanced toughness without a reduction in strength.

Conclusions:

Tuning the anisotropy of constituent nanoparticles is an effective strategy to enhance toughness in disordered nanoparticle assemblies.
This finding offers a pathway to overcome the damage tolerance limitations of DNAs.
The study provides fundamental insights into the mechanical deformation and failure mechanisms of these important materials.