In situ Bragg coherent X-ray diffraction during tensile testing of an individual Au nanowire

Systematic tensile tests were performed on single defect-free 〈110〉 Au nanowires grown by physical vapor deposition while simultaneously recording three-dimensional Bragg peaks using coherent X-rays. The trajectory of three-dimensional Bragg peaks in reciprocal space during tensile testing allowed for measurements of the evolution of strains and rotations of the nanowire, thus sensitively uncovering the full deformation geometry of the nanowire. The transition from elastic to plastic deformation is accompanied by rotations of the nanowire as quantified by analysis of the motion of Bragg peaks, showing the importance of boundary conditions in interpreting nanoscale mechanical deformations.