Self-healing of fractured GaAs nanowires

Nano Lett. 2011 Apr 13;11(4):1546-9. doi: 10.1021/nl104330h. Epub 2011 Mar 18.

Abstract

In-situ deformation experiments were carried out in a transmission electron microscope to investigate the structural response of single crystal GaAs nanowires (NWs) under compression. A repeatable self-healing process was discovered in which a partially fractured GaAs NW restored its original single crystal structure immediately after an external compressive force was removed. Possible mechanisms of the self-healing process are discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arsenicals / chemistry*
  • Compressive Strength
  • Crystallization / methods*
  • Gallium / chemistry*
  • Macromolecular Substances / chemistry
  • Materials Testing
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Nanostructures / ultrastructure*
  • Particle Size
  • Stress, Mechanical
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • Arsenicals
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • gallium arsenide
  • Gallium