Size dependence of lattice deformation induced by growth stress in Sn nanowires

Abstract

We report on size-dependent lattice expansion of single crystalline Sn nanowires (NWs) with the wire radius (r(NW)=6.9-34.7 nm), where the NWs are deposited under confinement of a nanotemplate. The longitudinal lattice expansion in the NWs increases up to approximately 1.0% with the reciprocal radius (1/r(NW)), contrary to the general theoretical prediction that the surface relaxation causes lattice contraction of nanomaterials. The longitudinal dilatation of the NW lattice can be understood by the Poisson effect induced by the compressive growth stress in the radial direction, which increases with the reciprocal radius.