The strength of gold nanowire forests

We have studied the compression yield strength of gold nanowire forests, with wire diameters in the range 30-80 nm, fabricated by electrodeposition into porous alumina templates. The yield strength as a function of wire diameter continues to follow the trend reported for larger Au columns, with the yield stress of 30 nm diameter columns exceeding 1.4 GPa. No significant work-hardening is observed at plastic strains up to 30%. Deformed nanowires show surface steps consistent with the nucleation of dislocations and their escape from the surface. (C) 2008 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.