Formation of quasi-icosahedral structures with multi-conjoint fivefold deformation twins in fivefold twinned metallic nanowires

S Jiang and YG Shen and YG Zheng and Z Chen, APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS, 103, 041909 (2013).

DOI: 10.1063/1.4816666

We show by molecular dynamics simulations that symmetrical quasi- icosahedral structures can be formed in fivefold twinned metallic nanowires (Cu, Au, and Ag) under dynamic tensile loading. The quasi- icosahedral structure, different from the icosahedral nanoclusters found in the past, consists of a twisted original fivefold twinned axis and ten secondary fivefold deformation twins, with five preexisting prismatic and fifteen tetrahedral subunits joined adjacently. Formation of these structures is observed in the necking region during the plastic deformation with successive twinning processes and is found to be independent on the cross-sectional shape as well as the tensile strain rate of the nanowires. (C) 2013 AIP Publishing LLC.

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