Surface effects on the mechanical elongation of AuCu nanowires: De-alloying and the formation of mixed suspended atomic chains

Journal Article · Sat Mar 07 00:00:00 EST 2015 · Journal of Applied Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4913625· OSTI ID:22413213

Lagos, M. J. ^[1]; Autreto, P. A. S.; Ugarte, D. ^[1]; Bettini, J. ^[2]; Sato, F.; Dantas, S. O. ^[3]

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1. Instituto de Física Gleb Wataghin, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, R. Sergio B. de Holanda 777, 13083-859 Campinas-SP (Brazil)
2. Laboratório Nacional de Nanotecnologia-LNNANO, 13083-970 Campinas-SP (Brazil)
3. Departamento de Física, ICE, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, 36036-330 Juiz de Fora-MG (Brazil)

We report here an atomistic study of the mechanical deformation of Au{sub x}Cu{sub (1−x)} atomic-size wires (nanowires (NWs)) by means of high resolution transmission electron microscopy experiments. Molecular dynamics simulations were also carried out in order to obtain deeper insights on the dynamical properties of stretched NWs. The mechanical properties are significantly dependent on the chemical composition that evolves in time at the junction; some structures exhibit a remarkable de-alloying behavior. Also, our results represent the first experimental realization of mixed linear atomic chains (LACs) among transition and noble metals; in particular, surface energies induce chemical gradients on NW surfaces that can be exploited to control the relative LAC compositions (different number of gold and copper atoms). The implications of these results for nanocatalysis and spin transport of one-atom-thick metal wires are addressed.

• OSTI ID: 22413213
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 117, Issue 9; Other Information: (c) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY
ATOMS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
COPPER
ELECTRIC CONTACTS
GOLD
INTERMETALLIC COMPOUNDS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
MOLECULAR DYNAMICS METHOD
NANOWIRES
SPIN
SURFACE ENERGY
SURFACES
TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY