Pressure-induced structural transition in AlN nanowires

The structural transition of AlN nanowires was investigated under pressures up to 51.1GPa by in situ angle dispersive high-pressure x-ray diffraction using synchrotron radiation source and a diamond anvil cell. A pressure-induced wurtzite to rocksalt phase transition starts at 24.9GPa and completes at 45.4GPa. The high-pressure behaviors of AlN nanowires differing from the bulk and nanocrystal AlN might arise from the intrinsic geometry in nanowires.