Molecular dynamics simulations for responses of nanotwinned diamond films under nanoindentation

We performed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations for the responses of single crystal (SC) and nanotwinned (nt) diamond films under nanoindentation, respectively, aimed to uncover the effects of twin boundary (TB) and twin thickness (δ) on hardness (H) and the corresponding deformation mechanisms. We found the Hall-Petch type relationship between H and δ. We also found that the inelastic deformation of SC-diamond under indentation could mainly be attributed to the nucleation and propagation of 〈110〉{111} dislocation loops. It showed that dislocation blockage and pile up at the TBs may induce additional hardening of the nt-diamond, while the softening of the material could be attributed to: (i) the formation and movement of the dislocation loops parallel with the surface, and (ii) the breakage of TBs, which may serve as new sites for dislocations nucleation.