Ab initio calculation of wurtzite-type GaN nanowires

Ab initio calculations of wurtzite-type GaN nanowires have been performed using density functional theory. Different shapes of nanowires of with similar diameters of around 2 nm have been considered to determine the stability of the structures. The quantitative similarities in the local properties obtained and dangling bond energies of nanowires and bulk surfaces have lead to a simple model model for a calculation of effective Young's modulus of nanowires of arbitrary diameters and shapes. The size dependence of the Young's modulus reveals a softening of GaN nanowires with the decrease of the diameter.