Nanoscale amorphization as a special deformation mode in nanowires

Crystals are conventionally treated to be deformed through generation and evolution of crystal lattice defects. In this paper, nanoscale amorphization (NA; formation of nanoscale amorphous regions in crystals under mechanical load) is suggested and theoretically described as a special/alternative deformation mode operating in crystalline solids. It is shown that NA can contribute effectively to plastic flow in crystalline Ni and Si nanowires.