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Non-Crystalline Structures of Ultra-Thin Unsupported Nanowires

Oguz Gulseren·Furio Ercolessi·Erio Tosatti
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Abstract

Computer simulations suggest that ultrathin metal wires should develop exotic, non-crystalline stable atomic structures, once their diameter decreases below a critical size of the order of a few atomic spacings. The new structures, whose details depend upon the material and the wire thickness, may be dominated by icosahedral packings. Helical, spiral-structured wires with multi-atom pitches are also predicted. The phenomenon, analogous to the appearance of icosahedral and other non-crystalline shapes in small clusters, can be rationalized in terms of surface energy anisotropy and optimal packing.

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Oguz Gulseren, Furio Ercolessi, Erio Tosatti. 1998-03-09. Non-Crystalline Structures of Ultra-Thin Unsupported Nanowires. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.80.3775

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