Gripless nanotension test for determination of nano-scale properties

This paper proposes a novel material testing method, gripless nanotension technique (GNT), to assess the basic mechanical properties of nano-scale structures in top-down processes. The GNT exhibits prominent advantages over conventional methods, i.e., use of a nanoindenter as a reliable and simple testing device, high-quality nano-scale metallic specimen with negligible residual stress, and tensile testing possible in the through-thickness direction. Using the proposed method, nano-scale polycrystalline specimens obtained from a nickel film were tested. Through the experiment, well-defined values of material properties with extraordinary phenomenal findings, i.e., strikingly reduced elastic modulus, yield strength and tensile strength of much higher values could be reliably observed and determined at the nano-scale.