Mechanical Properties of Organic Nanofibers

Abstract Intrinsic elastic and inelastic mechanical properties of individual, self‐assembled, quasi‐single‐crystalline para‐hexaphenylene nanofibers supported on substrates with different hydrophobicities are investigated as well as the interplay between the fibers and the underlying substrates. We find from atomic‐force‐microscopy‐based rupture experiments a rupture shear stress of about 2×10⁷ Pa for an individual fiber. Deflecting a nanofiber suspended across a gap results in a Young’s modulus of 0.65 GPa. Translational motion of intact nanofibers across the surface is demonstrated for fibers on a silicon substrate with a low‐adhesion coating, whereas such motion on a noncoated substrate is limited to very short (sub‐micrometer) nanofiber pieces due to strong adhesive forces.