title: Stress-induced phase transformation and optical coupling of silver nanoparticle superlattices into mechanically stable nanowires.
abstract: One-dimensional silver materials display unique optical and electrical properties with promise as functional blocks for a new generation of nanoelectronics. To date, synthetic approaches and property engineering of silver nanowires have primarily focused on chemical methods. Here we report a simple physical method of metal nanowire synthesis, based on stress-induced phase transformation and sintering of spherical Ag nanoparticle superlattices. Two phase transformations of nanoparticles under stress have been observed at distinct length scales. First, the lattice dimensions of silver nanoparticle superlattices may be reversibly manipulated between 0-8 GPa compressive stresses to enable systematic and reversible changes in mesoscale optical coupling between silver nanoparticles. Second, stresses greater than 8 GPa induced an atomic lattice phase transformation, which induced sintering of silver nanoparticles into micron-length scale nanowires. The nanowire synthesis mechanism displays a dependence on both nanoparticle crystal surface orientation and presence of particular grain boundaries to enable nanoparticle consolidation into nanowires.
authors: Sandia National Laboratories, Advanced Materials Laboratory, 1001 University Boulevard SE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87106, USA.
authors: Binsong
authors: B
authors: Li
authors: 1] State Key Laboratory of Coal Conversion, Institute of Coal Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030001, China [2] Synfuels China, Beijing 101407, China.
authors: Xiaodong
authors: X
authors: Wen
authors: Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
authors: Ruipeng
authors: R
authors: Li
authors: Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
authors: Zhongwu
authors: Z
authors: Wang
authors: Sandia National Laboratories, Advanced Materials Laboratory, 1001 University Boulevard SE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87106, USA.
authors: Paul G
authors: PG
authors: Clem
authors: 1] Sandia National Laboratories, Advanced Materials Laboratory, 1001 University Boulevard SE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87106, USA [2] Department of Chemical and Nuclear Engineering, Center for Micro-Engineered Materials, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87106, USA.
authors: Hongyou
authors: H
authors: Fan