Sub-1 nm Nanowire Based Superlattice Showing High Strength and Low Modulus.

Polymers possess special dimension-dependent processing flexibility which is always absent in inorganic materials. Traditional inorganic nanowires own similar dimensions to polymers, but usually lack near-molecular diameters and the related properties. Here we report that inorganic nanowires with sub1 nm diameter and microscale length can be electrospinningly processed into superstructures including smooth fibers and large-area mat by tuning the viscosity and surface tension of the colloidal nanowires solution. These superstructures have shown both flexible texture and excellent mechanical properties (712.5 MPa for tensile strength, 10.3 GPa for elastic modulus) while retaining properties arising from inorganic components.