Nanomechanical architecture of strained bilayer thin films: From design principles to experimental fabrication

Design principles for nanostructures are proposed based on the controlled folding of strained thin bilayer films. By controlling the geometry of the bilayer films, calculations can predict formation of structures such as nanorings, nanodrills, and nanocoils (see Figure). In theory, this approach could be applied to the fabrication of nanostructures from other combinations of different classes of materials.