Many experimental results in the literature show a distinct size effect for the measured yield strength at sub-micron length scales. Two possible mechanisms for this behaviour are strain gradient plasticity and dislocation starvation. Here, we report the yield strength of gold nanowire forests, with wire diameters in the range 30 – 80 nm, measured in uniaxial compression. The yield strength as a function of wire diameter continues to follow the trend reported for larger Au columns [1,2], with the yield stress of 30 nm diameter columns exceeding 1.4 GPa. No significant work hardening is observed at plastic strains up to 30% and because there are no strain gradients in this loading configuration, dislocation starvation is the only plausible hardening mechanism. TEM investigation of deformed nanowires found surface steps consistent with the nucleation of dislocations and their escape from the surface. Uniaxial compression results from nanoporous gold nanowires with 5 nm ligaments are also reported. In this case both strain gradient plasticity and dislocation starvation are thought to be possible strengthening mechanisms.

1) J.R. Greer and W.D. Nix, Phys. Rev. B 73 Art. No. 245410 (2006).

2) C.A. Volkert and E.T. Lilleoddon, Philos. Mag. Vol. 86, Nos. 33-35, 5567-5579 (2005).

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