Pseudoelasticity of Cu–Zr nanowires via stress-induced martensitic phase transformations

Abstract

Atomistic simulations were performed to investigate the pseudoelastic effects induced by martensitic phase transformation from body-centered cubic (B2) to body-centered tetragonal (BCT) lattice in Cu–Zr nanowires. The phase transformation occurs through nucleation and propagation of {100} twin boundary, which differs from the {101} twin boundary for B2 Ni–Al nanowires. During unloading, extension strain up to 45% can be fully recovered through inverse phase transformation. The BCT lattice has also been verified to be metastable for Cu–Zr nanowires with an energy analysis along the epitaxial Bain path. Our work implies Cu–Zr nanowires may be excellent functional components for nanoelectromechanical systems.