Microfabrication and mechanical properties of nanoporous gold at the nanoscale

The mechanical properties of nanowires consisting of nanoporous gold are studied experimentally. The nanoporous gold is synthesized from dealloyed “white gold” leaf (Au37.4 and Ag62.6 in at.%) into a free-standing dog-bone-shaped specimen with a gauge section 7 μm long, 300 nm wide, and 100 nm thick. The elastic modulus, residual stress, and yield stress are measured by deflective tensile testing and nanoindentation, and are about 9 GPa, 65 MPa, and 110 MPa, respectively.