Ultrahigh strength and shear-assisted separation of sliding nanocontacts studied in situ

Takaaki Sato (), Zachary B. Milne, Masahiro Nomura, Naruo Sasaki, Robert W. Carpick and Hiroyuki Fujita
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Takaaki Sato: University of Pennsylvania, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics
Zachary B. Milne: Sandia National Laboratories, Nanostructure Physics
Masahiro Nomura: University of Tokyo, Institute of Industrial Science
Naruo Sasaki: The University of Electro-Communications, Department of Engineering Science
Robert W. Carpick: University of Pennsylvania, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics
Hiroyuki Fujita: University of Tokyo, Institute of Industrial Science

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract The behavior of materials in sliding contact is challenging to determine since the interface is normally hidden from view. Using a custom microfabricated device, we conduct in situ, ultrahigh vacuum transmission electron microscope measurements of crystalline silver nanocontacts under combined tension and shear, permitting simultaneous observation of contact forces and contact width. While silver classically exhibits substantial sliding-induced plastic junction growth, the nanocontacts exhibit only limited plastic deformation despite high applied stresses. This difference arises from the nanocontacts’ high strength, as we find the von Mises stresses at yield points approach the ideal strength of silver. We attribute this to the nanocontacts’ nearly defect-free nature and small size. The contacts also separate unstably, with pull-off forces well below classical predictions for rupture under pure tension. This strongly indicates that shearing reduces nanoscale pull-off forces, predicted theoretically at the continuum level, but not directly observed before.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30290-y

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