Mechanical characteristics of copper indium gallium diselenide compound nanopillars using in situ transmission electron microscopy compression

The critical-stress and strain-induced structural variations of the copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) compound nanopillars were estimated using in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) compression experiments. The Young's modulus values of nanopillars with diameters of 200-400 nm were 29-75 GPa. The nanopillars exhibited the superelasticity effect at diameters of 90 and 150 nm. The plastic deformation energy and the elastic deformation energy values were 0.04-0.13 × 10−12 J and 0.05-5.41 × 10−12 J, respectively, for nanopillars with diameters of 200-400 nm.