Amorphization and fracture in silicon diselenide nanowires: A molecular dynamics study

Dynamics of amorphization and fracture in SiSe2 nanowires are studied using the molecular-dynamics method. We find that fracture is initiated in an amorphous region at the nanowire surface. Local amorphization propagates across the nanowire while multiple cracks start at the boundaries of the amorphous region. Results for the time evolution of amorphization, crack propagation, and fracture are discussed. © 1996 The American Physical Society.