The strength of gold nanowire forests

We have studied the compression yield strength of gold nanowire forests, with wire diameters in the range 30–80 nm, fabricated by electrodeposition into porous alumina templates. The yield strength as a function of wire diameter continues to follow the trend reported for larger Au columns, with the yield stress of 30 nm diameter columns exceeding 1.4 GPa. No significant work-hardening is observed at plastic strains up to 30%. Deformed nanowires show surface steps consistent with the nucleation of dislocations and their escape from the surface.