Eur. Phys. J. B (2012) 85: 331
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2012-30352-3

Regular Article

Molecular dynamics study of Co-Au and Ag-Au bimetallic atomic chain formation

Faculty of Physics, Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russian Federation

^a e-mail: klavsyuk@physics.msu.ru

Received: 29 April 2012
Received in final form: 29 July 2012
Published online: 26 September 2012

Abstract

We report molecular dynamics calculations on the evolution of Co-Au and Ag-Au alloy nanowires stretched along the [100], [110] and [111] crystallographic directions. The strong tendency of chain formation has been found for Ag-Au alloy. On the contrary the Co-Au alloy presents a different breaking pattern. In particular, we have found the formation of tetramer alloy nanowires. Finally, we present the mechanical properties of alloy nanocontacts.