X-ray diffraction analysis of synthesized silver nanohexagon for the study of their mechanical properties

• PVP capped silver nanohexagons have been synthesized by chemical reduction method.
• HRTEM images show that the average size of the prepared nanohexagons is 45 nm.
• X-ray diffraction study confirms the crystallinity of silver nanohexagons.
• Elastic properties have been calculated by W–H analysis using different models.
• Further, the results from UDM, USDM, and UDEDM matches with SSP method.

Silver nanohexagons have been prepared through the chemical reduction method using poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) as a capping agent. High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopic (HRTEM) study shows that average size of the prepared silver nanoparticles is 45 nm approximately with nearly hexagon shape. The peaks in the X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) pattern are in good agreement with that of face centered cubic structure. Williamson–Hall plots (W–H plot) have been analyzed to study the crystalline size and lattice strain considering the peak broadening of the AgNHs. The mechanical properties such as strain, stress and energy density of prepared nanohexagon have been calculated assuming uniform deformation model (UDM), uniform stress deformation model (USDM), and uniform deformation energy density model (UDEDM) and size–strain plot method (SSP). From all these results, it is found that the size and strain estimated from W–H analysis and SSP method are in good agreement.