Nanowires (NWs) provide opportunities for building high-performance sensors and devices at micro-/nanoscales. Directional movement and assembly of NWs have attracted extensive attention; however, controllable manipulation remains challenging partly due to the lack of understanding on interfacial interactions between NWs and substrates (or contacting probes). In the present study, lateral bending of Ag NWs was investigated under various bending angles and pushing velocities, and the mechanical performance corresponding to microstructures was clarified based on high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTRM) detections. The bending-angle-dependent fractures of Ag NWs were detected by an atomic force microscope (AFM) and a scanning electron microscope (SEM), and the fractures occurred when the bending angle was larger than 80°. Compared with an Ag substrate, Ag NWs exhibited a lower system stiffness according to the nanoindentation with an AFM probe. HRTRM observations indicated that there were grain boundaries inside Ag NWs, which would be contributors to the generation of fractures and cracks on Ag NWs during lateral bending and nanoindentation. This study provides a guide to controllably manipulate NWs and fabricate high-performance micro-/nanodevices.
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