In Situ Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy Observations of Fracture at the Atomic Scale

The formation, propagation, and structure of nanoscale cracks determine the failure mechanics of engineered materials. Herein, we have captured, with atomic resolution and in real time, unit cell-by-unit cell lattice-trapped cracking in two-dimensional (2D) rhenium disulfide (ReS_{2}) using in situ...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physical review letters 2020-12, Vol.125 (24), p.246102-246102, Article 246102
Main Authors: Huang, Lingli, Zheng, Fangyuan, Deng, Qingming, Thi, Quoc Huy, Wong, Lok Wing, Cai, Yuan, Wang, Ning, Lee, Chun-Sing, Lau, Shu Ping, Chhowalla, Manish, Li, Ju, Ly, Thuc Hue, Zhao, Jiong
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Crack propagation
Crack tips
Cracks
Elastic deformation
Fracture mechanics
Fracture toughness
Healing
Real time
Rhenium
Scanning electron microscopy
Scanning transmission electron microscopy
Strain
Transmission electron microscopy
Unit cell
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Summary:The formation, propagation, and structure of nanoscale cracks determine the failure mechanics of engineered materials. Herein, we have captured, with atomic resolution and in real time, unit cell-by-unit cell lattice-trapped cracking in two-dimensional (2D) rhenium disulfide (ReS_{2}) using in situ aberration corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). Our real time observations of atomic configurations and corresponding strain fields in propagating cracks directly reveal the atomistic fracture mechanisms. The entirely brittle fracture with non-blunted crack tips as well as perfect healing of cracks have been observed. The mode I fracture toughness of 2D ReS_{2} is measured. Our experiments have bridged the linear elastic deformation zone and the ultimate nm-sized nonlinear deformation zone inside the crack tip. The dynamics of fracture has been explained by the atomic lattice trapping model. The direct visualization on the strain field in the ongoing crack tips and the gained insights of discrete bond breaking or healing in cracks will facilitate deeper insights into how atoms are able to withstand exceptionally large strains at the crack tips.
ISSN:0031-9007
1079-7114
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.125.246102