ZnO nanowires are currently used in many application fi elds, such emission displays, dye-sensitized solar cells,gas sensors, nanomachines, to cite but few. Thermal stability is often a concern in terms of the mechanicalresponse and, in particular, for the elasticity of the nanowires. Literature works focused to a certain degree, onthe heating response of nanowires. Anyhow, no experimental data are nowadays available in literature on the lowandvery low-temperature exposures. In the present study, deep-cryogenic treatment was performed on verticallyaligned ZnO nanowires produced by metal organic chemical vapor deposition. The mechanical response of thenanowires was detected by nanoindentation tests. It was found that the Young’s modulus, the critical bucklingstress and strain of individual nanowires is not signifi cantly infl uenced by the cryogenic exposure. Yet, the bulkbase ZnO from which the nanowires are grown halved after the deep-cryogenic treatment
