Metal–ceramic nanolayered composites have been reported to have high strength because of their effective confinement of dislocations at interfaces; however, this unfortunately results in unstable deformation due to the brittleness of the ceramic layer. This study explores the deformation behavior of a metal–ceramic nanolayered composite in which the ceramic layer thickness is varied to examine the effect of brittle-to-ductile transition of the ceramic layer. The thickness of AZO, which is theoretically expected to be ductile, is first fixed at 9 nm while varying the metal thickness. For further comparison, 150 nm Ag/120 nm AZO is studied, where the AZO layer is expected to be brittle. In-situ SEM pillar compression show stable deformation for samples with 9 nm thick AZO, in which co-deformation of metal and ceramic is confirmed by TEM analysis. A systematic increase in strength is observed with reduction of Ag thickness with stable plastic deformation for nanolayered composite with AZO thickness of 9 nm. For the 150 nm Ag/120 nm AZO, unstable deformation is observed in which brittle fracturing of the AZO layer leads to reduction in flow stresses or strain softening. Finite element analysis shows that the stresses in the Ag and the AZO layers reach the stresses required for co-deformation.

据报道，金属-陶瓷纳米复合材料具有高强度，因为它们有效地限制了界面处的位错。然而，不幸的是，由于陶瓷层的脆性，这导致不稳定的变形。这项研究探索了一种金属-陶瓷纳米层复合材料的变形行为，其中改变了陶瓷层的厚度，以研究陶瓷层脆性-延性转变的影响。理论上预期是可延展的AZO的厚度首先固定为9 nm，同时改变金属厚度。为了进一步比较，研究了150 nm Ag / 120 nm AZO，其中AZO层很脆。原位SEM柱压缩显示具有9 nm厚AZO的样品具​​有稳定的变形，其中金属和陶瓷的共同变形已通过TEM分析得到证实。对于AZO厚度为9 nm的纳米层复合材料，观察到随着Ag厚度的减少以及稳定的塑性变形，强度得到了系统性的提高。对于150 nm Ag / 120 nm AZO，观察到不稳定的变形，其中AZO层的脆性断裂导致流动应力降低或应变软化。有限元分析表明，Ag和AZO层中的应力达到了共变形所需的应力。