Buckling of C60 whiskers

The authors demonstrated the mechanics of materials for crystalline whiskers composed of C-60 molecules; compressive deformation of the whiskers was observed by in situ transmission electron microscopy with simultaneous force measurement by means of an optical cantilever method, as used in atomic force microscopy. In response to compression along the long axis, the whiskers bent first elastically, then buckled. A whisker with 160 nm diameter fractured brittlely at a strain of 0.08. According to Euler's formula, Young's modulus of the whisker was estimated to be 32-54 GPa, which is 160%-650% of that of C-60 bulk crystals. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.