In situ real-time study buckling behavior of boron nitride nanotubes with axial compression by TEM

Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) were treated as brittle materials and could be used to enhance the composite mechanical properties. Many approaches were used to verify the theoretical prediction experimentally, but how to in situ real-time characterize nanomechanical properties of BNNTs was still interested to the researchers. An in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) equipped with a force transducer holder had been used to study the structure evolution behavior of BNNTs with axial compression. Real-time video and the force transducer had been used synchronously to record the whole force loading process where the mechanical deformation of BNNT began, buckled and ended with fracture. An individual ultrathin BNNT was employed to conduct the loading test. The results showed that the elastic deformation happened on the BNNT. Young’s modulus ∼1.05-1.37 Tpa and elasticity coefficient ∼198.7-255.9 N/m of BNNT were calculated by Euler formula and Hooker’s law, respectively.