Investigation on the mechanical behavior of fivefold twinned silver nanowires

Using molecular-dynamic (MD) simulation, we studied the mechanical responses of fivefold twinned silver nanowire (NW) for tensile and torsional deformations. Although the relaxed configuration of fivefold twinned NW possesses higher potential energy than 〈1 1 0〉 single crystalline NW, the internal stable of the unique structure provides a larger energetic barrier to defect formation. Under tensile loading condition, we find that the defect emission and propagation in fivefold twinned NW is prevented by the pre-existing twin boundaries. While the plastic deformation under torsion yield through the nucleation of coaxial dislocations, showing a quite uniformly distribution as observed in the end of the wire. Generally, different external loading leading to different deformation modes, as reported in this paper, might be useful in avoiding for certain deformation mechanisms of metallic NWs.