Nanoscale physics

Dynamics of anisotropic break-up in nanowires of FCC lattice structure
V.V. Tereshchuk1, V. N. Gorshkov2
1,2 Department of Physics, National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”, Building 7, 37 Peremogy Avenue, Kiev-56, 03056, Ukraine. 
E-mail: volodymyr379@gmail.com
In our work, we investigated the instability of nanowires with FCC lattice structure using kinetic Monte Carlo model. Previous studies indicate that nanowire break-up resembles the Plateau-Rayleigh instability in liquid threads [1]. However, the results of our simulations also show the dependence of the disintegration process on the nanowire crystalline structure, which manifests itself in the anisotropy of the surface energy density. 
Fig.1. The results of nanowire break-up obtained after conducting an experiment and Monte-Carlo simulations 
 We established that the degree of anisotropy depends on the orientation of the nanowire (i.e. its internal structure) relative to the crystallographic axes of the lattice of a given type. Our study reveals that this factor can cause a significant discrepancy between the results of our modeling and analytical predictions. Specifically, we discovered noticeable variations in the average size of “nanodrops” and that the distance between them can exceed the one predicted by Plateau-Rayleigh instability (see Fig.1). We note that the last finding was already corroborated by several experimental studies [2].  We also indicate the high possibility of the formation of zigzag-like structures for certain orientations which may be found useful in the applications of synthesis of core-shell nanowires. 
1.	Plateau J. Experimental and Theoretical Statics of Liquids Subject to Molecular Forces Only // Paris, France: Gauthier-Villars. -1873. -1. 
2.	Karim S. et al. Morphological evolution of Au nanowires controlled by Rayleigh instability // Nanotechnol. -2006. -17. -P. 5954-5959.