Eur. Phys. J. B (2012) 85: 366
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2012-30430-6

Regular Article

In situ measurements of ultimate bending strength of CuO and ZnO nanowires

¹ Institute of Physics, University of Tartu, Riia st. 142, 51014 Tartu, Estonia
² Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia, Kengaraga st. 8, LV-1063 Riga, Latvia
³ Estonian Nanotechnology Competence Centre, Riia 142, 51014 Tartu, Estonia

^a e-mail: boris.polyakov@cfi.lu.lv

Received: 30 May 2012
Received in final form: 9 July 2012
Published online: 8 November 2012

Abstract

Young’s modulus and the bending strength of copper oxide and zinc oxide nanowires (NWs) were measured in situ using nanomanipulation techniques inside a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Young’s modulus was measured by bending half-suspended NWs and simultaneously measuring the force using a sensor based on a quartz tuning fork. Bending strength was measured for the NWs on a flat surface by bending them from one end with an AFM tip until the NW broke. The profile of the elastically deformed NW and the average value of Young’s modulus were used to calculate the bending strength of the NWs. Weibull statistics was applied to analyse and compare the bending strength distribution for NWs made from both materials.