Self-healing of fractured GaAs nanowires.

Wang, Yanbo; Joyce, Hannah J; Gao, Qiang; Liao, Xiaozhou; Tan, H Hoe; Zou, Jin; Ringer, Simon P; Shan, Zhiwei et al. · Nano Lett · 2011

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

In-situ deformation experiments were carried out in a transmission electron microscope to investigate the structural response of single crystal GaAs nanowires (NWs) under compression. A repeatable self-healing process was discovered in which a partially fractured GaAs NW restored its original single crystal structure immediately after an external compressive force was removed. Possible mechanisms of the self-healing process are discussed.

Medical subject headings