Significantly enhanced mechanical properties in AlN helix

To safely and reliably use aluminum nitride (AlN) helices in the fabrication of novel micro/nanodevices, it is very important to know their mechanical properties. Herein, we investigate the mechanical properties of individual AlN helices using an in situ tensile-bending test. Tensile tests reveal that an AlN helix has an average ε of ∼4.7 ± 0.8% elastic deformation before a typical brittle fracture occurs. The bending test shows a two-step mechanical feature—linear-elastic followed by an elastic-plastic process—with an average ε _bent of ∼54.5 ± 0.6%. Our results provide direct cognition about the mechanical properties of AlN helices and their benefit to the design of AlN-based flexible micro/nanodevices. (paper)