Interaction of voids and nano-ductility in single crystal silicon

This paper investigates void growth and interaction in a single crystal silicon cubic box under hydrostatic tension by performing three-dimensional strain-controlled molecular dynamics simulations. Two types of fracture behaviors are observed: brittle cleavage on void surface and ductile void coalescence in the inter-void ligament. A critical initial inter-void ligament distance is suggested to be the transition criterion for distinguishing the two behaviors. When the distance between the voids is less than the critical initial inter-void ligament distance, the silicon cube tends to fracture via void coalescence. We demonstrate that the nano-ductility of single crystal silicon is due to vacancy diffusion triggered by void surfaces, which is different from that of metals. In addition, the effect of temperature on the nano-ductility is also investigated. Single crystal silicon becomes ductile at high temperature due to the thermal activated vacancy diffusion.

Highlights

► Voids growth and interaction in single crystal silicon cubes are investigated.

► Two fracture behaviors are observed: brittle cleavage and ductile void coalescence.

► The brittle–ductile transition depends on initial inter-void ligament distance.

► Initial inter-void ligament distance increase with void radius increasing.

► Nano-ductility in single crystal Si is due to vacancies diffusion in the ligament.

Source:Computational Materials Science

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