We propose to develop an AFM-based nanowire tensile test apparatus together with an experimentally validated computational tool, to obtain fundamental understanding on the mechanical properties of nanowires. The proposal features close integration of theory and experiment to validate and illuminate the results in a manner that would not be possible from a single study alone. This tool set will be essential for a wide array of research and industrial fields with interests in nanowires and nanomaterials, including resonators, composites, nanofluidics, and electrical junctions.
The broader impact of this proposal includes establishing mechanical design guidelines for nanowires and providing a set of computational tools to calculate the behavior of nanowire devices and nanowire/metal interfaces in new applications. These tools will enable a wide range engineers and researchers to confidently implement nanowire designs, a key building block of nanotechnology. The educational plan include the development of a large-scale version of the AFM style tensile test and simplified version of computational codes, demonstrating the concepts of stress, strain, and AFM operation to high school and undergraduate students.
