What are the Mechanisms Behind Increased Elasticity in Nanomaterials?
At the nanoscale, materials exhibit unique mechanical properties due to quantum effects, surface area to volume ratio, and the presence of defects. For example, carbon nanotubes and graphene have exceptional elasticity due to their strong sp2 hybridized carbon bonds. Additionally, the reduced size and higher surface area of nanoparticles allow for better stress distribution and reduced likelihood of defect propagation.
