Shape effect on the elastic properties of Ag nanocrystals

Abstract

In this work, elastic properties of silver (Ag) nanocrystals have been studied using X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. For this, Ag nanocubes and Ag nanohexapods have been synthesised by chemical reduction method, using ethylene glycol as a reducing agent and poly (vinylpyrrolidone) as a stabilising agent. High‐resolution transmission electron microscope images show that average size of the Ag nanocubes is ∼50 nm, which is almost same as that of Ag nanohexapods. XRD study confirms on matching with Joint Committee on Powder Diffraction Standards file no. 04‐0783 that both the nanocrystals are crystalline with face‐centred cubic structure. From the Williamson–Hall plot, stress–strain (S–S) for both the nanocubes and nanohexapods have been calculated and further a S–S plot shows that elastic properties are shape dependent.