Molecular dynamics study on mechanics of metal nanowire

The new concept of using nanowires as building blocks for logic and memory circuits makes it very necessary to fully understand the mechanical behaviors of these nanowires. Embedded-atom method is employed to carry out three-dimensional molecular dynamics simulations of the mechanical properties of rectangular cross-section copper nanowire. A stable free-relaxation state and the stress-strain relation of nanowire under extension are obtained. The elastic modulus, yielding strength and deformation are studied. The surface effect, size effect, and temperature effect on the extension property of metal nanowire are discussed in detail. The simulation results from our present work show that at nanoscale surface atoms play an important role on the mechanical behaviors of nano-structures. This study of mechanical properties of metal nanowires will be helpful to the design, manufacture and manipulation of nano-devices. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.