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Void-assisted plasticity in Ag nanowires with a single twin structure
He Zheng1, Jiangwei Wang, Jian Yu Huang
1School of Physics and Technology, Center for Electron Microscopy and MOE Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-structures, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China. wang@whu.edu.cn.
Nanoscale
|July 10, 2014
Summary
Plastic deformation in silver nanowires (NWs) begins with surface dislocation activity. Void formation and growth then lead to ductile fracture and a transformation to a polycrystalline structure.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Mechanical Engineering
Background:
- Silver nanowires (NWs) are crucial building blocks in nanotechnology.
- Understanding their mechanical behavior under tensile stress is essential for reliable device assembly.
- Deformation mechanisms in nanomaterials can differ significantly from bulk materials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the tensile deformation mechanisms of silver nanowires with a single twin structure.
- To elucidate the role of surface-mediated processes and void formation in nanowire plasticity.
- To analyze the microstructural evolution during fracture.
Main Methods:
- In situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was utilized to observe deformation in real-time.
- Tensile loading was applied to individual silver nanowires.
- High-resolution imaging and analysis of dislocation activity and void evolution were performed.
Main Results:
- Initial plastic deformation was dominated by surface-mediated partial dislocation activities.
- Void formation and growth were identified as key mechanisms in the later stages of plasticity.
- Ductile fracture was observed, characterized by significant void coalescence.
- Microstructural analysis revealed a transformation from a bi-crystalline to a poly-crystalline structure in the fracture region, attributed to void activity.
Conclusions:
- The study reveals a distinct two-stage deformation process in twinned silver nanowires under tension.
- Void nucleation and growth play a critical role in the ductile fracture of silver nanowires.
- These findings have significant implications for the design and assembly of functional nanostructures using silver nanowires as building blocks.
