Elasticity and yield strength of pentagonal silver nanowires: In situ bending tests

This paper reports in situ mechanical characterization of silver nanowires (Ag NWs) inside a scanning electron microscope using a cantilevered beam bending technique. Measurements consisted in controlled bending of a cantilevered NW by the tip of an atomic force microscope glued to the force sensor. Relatively high degree of elasticity followed by either plastic deformation or fracture was observed in bending experiments. Experimental data were numerically fitted into the model based on the elastic beam theory and values of Young modulus and yield strength were extracted. Measurements were performed on twenty Ag NWs with diameters from 76 nm to 211 nm. Average Young modulus and yield strength were found to be 90 GPa and 4.8 GPa respectively. In addition, fatigue tests with several millions of cycles were performed and high fatigue resistance of Ag NWs was demonstrated.