In-situ TEM deformation of aluminium nanopillars

We demonstrate here that compressive and cyclic loads can be applied to individual nanostructures enabling the observation of nanoscale deformation and fatigue. We demonstrate the capability of the new NanoLAB cyclic nanotesting instrument with nanoscale mechanical testing of individual Al nanopillars with diameters of less than 350nm. The thin Al nanopillars are seen to deform via a buckling mode where single crystal Al is turned into polycrystalline Al.