In situ atomic-scale observation of grain size and twin thickness effect limit in twin-structural nanocrystalline platinum

Abstract

The deformation mechanisms of micron-sized twinned metals are well-understood, but it is not so for twinned nanocrystalline metals. Here, the authors use high resolution microscopy to image the deformation of nanocrystalline twinned platinum and show that grain boundary behaviors dominate plasticity below 6 nm.