Origins of size effects in initially dislocation-free single-crystal silver micro- and nanocubes
We report phenomenal yield strengthsโup to one-fourth of the theoretical strength of silverโrecorded in microcompression testing of initially dislocation-free silver micro- and nanocubes synthesized from a multistep seed-growth process. These high strengths and the massive strain bursts that occur upon yield are results of the initially dislocation-free single-crystal structure of the pristine samples that yield through spontaneous nucleation of dislocations.