Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Onset and propagation of slip at adhesive elastic interfaces.

Physical review. E·2024
Same author

Fifty years of Schallamach waves: from rubber friction to nanoscale fracture.

Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences·2022
Same author

Propagating Schallamach-type waves resemble interface cracks.

Physical review. E·2022
Same author

Microbial induced calcite precipitation can consolidate martian and lunar regolith simulants.

PloS one·2022
Same author

Diffusion of water in palm leaf materials.

Journal of the Royal Society, Interface·2021
Same author

Surface-Stress Induced Embrittlement of Metals.

Nano letters·2021

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 25, 2025

Author Spotlight: Exploring Self-Assembled MOF-Polymer Composites
06:48

Author Spotlight: Exploring Self-Assembled MOF-Polymer Composites

Published on: June 14, 2024

2.2K

Organic monolayers disrupt plastic flow in metals.

Tatsuya Sugihara1, Anirudh Udupa2, Koushik Viswanathan3

  • 1Department of Mechanical Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.

Science Advances
|December 17, 2020
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Adsorbed organic monolayers on metal surfaces can cause a ductile-to-brittle transition, significantly reducing deformation forces. This surface stress-driven "embrittlement" impacts metal plasticity and fracture behavior.

More Related Videos

Gyroid Nickel Nanostructures from Diblock Copolymer Supramolecules
08:40

Gyroid Nickel Nanostructures from Diblock Copolymer Supramolecules

Published on: April 28, 2014

12.7K
Electrophoretic Crystallization of Ultrathin High-performance Metal-organic Framework Membranes
07:45

Electrophoretic Crystallization of Ultrathin High-performance Metal-organic Framework Membranes

Published on: August 16, 2018

10.2K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Nov 25, 2025

Author Spotlight: Exploring Self-Assembled MOF-Polymer Composites
06:48

Author Spotlight: Exploring Self-Assembled MOF-Polymer Composites

Published on: June 14, 2024

2.2K
Gyroid Nickel Nanostructures from Diblock Copolymer Supramolecules
08:40

Gyroid Nickel Nanostructures from Diblock Copolymer Supramolecules

Published on: April 28, 2014

12.7K
Electrophoretic Crystallization of Ultrathin High-performance Metal-organic Framework Membranes
07:45

Electrophoretic Crystallization of Ultrathin High-performance Metal-organic Framework Membranes

Published on: August 16, 2018

10.2K

Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Surface Chemistry
  • Mechanics

Background:

  • Adsorbed films critically influence surface mechanical properties.
  • Mechanochemical phenomena like liquid metal embrittlement are well-documented.
  • Understanding adsorbate effects on metal plasticity is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To demonstrate and characterize a mechanochemical phenomenon where organic monolayers induce embrittlement in metals.
  • To investigate the role of surface stress versus surface energy in this adsorbate-induced transition.
  • To explore the implications for material behavior and manufacturing.

Main Methods:

  • High-speed in situ imaging to observe deformation dynamics.
  • Post facto analysis of fracture surfaces.
  • Molecular self-assembly to control surface properties.
  • Modeling and molecular simulations for mechanistic insights.

Main Results:

  • Adsorbed long-chain organic monolayers induced a ductile-to-brittle transition in metals.
  • Plastic deformation changed from sinuous flow to quasi-periodic fracture.
  • Deformation forces were reduced by 85%.
  • The embrittlement was attributed to adsorbate-induced surface stress, not surface energy reduction.

Conclusions:

  • Organic monolayers can significantly alter metal mechanical behavior, inducing embrittlement.
  • Surface stress is a key driver of this mechanochemical effect.
  • Findings offer insights into solid mechanochemistry and have manufacturing implications.