In situ electrochemical nanoindentation of a nickel (111) single crystal: Hydrogen effect on pop-in behaviour

The hydrogen effect on dislocation nucleation in Ni single crystals with (111) surface orientation has been examined with the aid of a specifically designed nanoindentation setup for in situ electrochemical experiments. The effect of the electrochemical potential on the indent load - displacement curve, especially the unstable elastic-plastic transition (pop-in), was studied in detail. The experiments allowed the exclusion of the surface from hydrogen effects. The observations showed a pop-in load drop from an average value of 250 to 100 μN due to in situ hydrogen charging, which is reproducibly observed within sequential hydrogen charging and discharging. Clear evidence is provided that hydrogen atoms facilitate homogeneous dislocation nucleation.