Effect of synthesis process on the Young's modulus of titanate nanowire

Abstract

AbstractNanocrystalline materials have attracted a great deal of attention because of their intriguing size‐/shape‐dependent properties. Titanate nanowires have been synthesized from titania (TiO2) nanoparticles using conventional hydrothermal process. Young's moduli of as‐prepared titanate nanowires have been determined in situ from the buckling instability of the nanowires due to application of axial compressive load using a nanomanipulator inside a scanning electron microscope. Based on Euler's buckling model, the Young's moduli of the nanowires are determined to be 32 ± 11 GPa. The obtained Young's moduli have been compared to that of the titanate nanowires prepared with microwave hydrothermal process to study the effect of synthesis process on the mechanical behavior of nanomaterials. The prolonged holding time of a conventional hydrothermal process helps in the significant enhancement of the Young's modulus of nanowire in comparison to that prepared with microwave hydrothermal process.