Ultralarge elastic deformation of nanoscale diamond
- 20 April 2018
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Science
- Vol. 360 (6386), 300-302
- https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aar4165
Abstract
Diamonds have substantial hardness and durability, but attempting to deform diamonds usually results in brittle fracture. We demonstrate ultralarge, fully reversible elastic deformation of nanoscale (~300 nanometers) single-crystalline and polycrystalline diamond needles. For single-crystalline diamond, the maximum tensile strains (up to 9%) approached the theoretical elastic limit, and the corresponding maximum tensile stress reached ~89 to 98 gigapascals. After combining systematic computational simulations and characterization of pre- and postdeformation structural features, we ascribe the concurrent high strength and large elastic strain to the paucity of defects in the small-volume diamond nanoneedles and to the relatively smooth surfaces compared with those of microscale and larger specimens. The discovery offers the potential for new applications through optimized design of diamond nanostructure, geometry, elastic strains, and physical properties.Funding Information
- Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology Centre
- Nanyang Technological University (Distinguished University Professorship)
- Swiss National Science Foundation (P300P2_167604)
- National Natural Science Foundation of China (51301147)
- National Natural Science Foundation of China (51372213)
- National Natural Science Foundation of China (51672230)
- Research Grants Council, University Grants Committee, Hong Kong (CityU11216515)
- Research Grants Council, University Grants Committee, Hong Kong (CityU11207416)
- Institute for Basic Science of South Korea (IBS-R019-D1)
- Shenzhen Science Technology and Innovation Commission (JSGG20141020103826038)
- Institute for Basic Science of South Korea (IBS-R019-D1)
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