Abstract. Mechanical elasticity of hexagonal wurtzite GaN nanowires with hexagonal cross sections grown through a vapour–liquid–solid (VLS) method was investigated using a three-point bending method with a digital-pulsed force mode (DPFM) atomic force microscope (AFM). In a diameter range of 57–135 nm, bending deflection and effective stiffness, or spring constant, profiles were recorded over the entire length of end-supported GaN nanowires and compared to the classic elastic beam models. Profiles reveal that the bending behaviour of the smallest nanowire (57.0 nm in diameter) is as a fixed beam, while larger nanowires (89.3–135.0 nm in diameter) all show simple-beam boundary conditions. Diameter dependence on the stiffness and elastic modulus are observed for these GaN nanowires. The GaN nanowire of 57.0 nm diameter displays the lowest stiffness (0.98 N m⁻¹) and the highest elastic modulus (400 ± 15 GPa). But with increasing diameter, elastic modulus decreases, while stiffness increases. Elastic moduli for most tested nanowires range from 218 to 317 GPa, which approaches or meets the literature values for bulk single crystal and GaN nanowires with triangular cross sections from other investigators. The present results together with further tests on plastic and fracture processes will provide fundamental information for the development of GaN nanowire devices.

Print publication: Issue 13 (4 April 2007)
Received 6 November 2006, in final form 19 January 2007
Published 28 February 2007