Fig. 5: Long-range ordered nanocrystalline morphology via mechanical training.

A The 1D WAXS profiles and (B) the 1D SAXS profiles of DN–E–6 T undergone the six times of freeze-thawed cycles, with various trained time (1 min, 5 min, 10 min, 30 min and 60 min) at the trained strain of 200%. C The 2D WAXS patterns and (D) the 2D SAXS patterns of DN–E–6 T undergone the six times of freeze-thawed cycles, with various trained time (1 min, 5 min, 10 min, 30 min and 60 min) at the trained strain of 200%. E The nanocrystalline dimension D from WAXS measurements, and intercrystal spacing L from SAXS measurements as a function of trained time. F The 1D WAXS profiles and (G) the 1D SAXS profiles of DN–E–6 T undergone the six times of freeze-thawed cycles, with various trained strain (0%, 100%, 150%, 200% and 250%; where 0% represents DN–E–6T without mechanical training) at trained time of 30 minutes. H The 2D WAXS patterns and (J) the 2D SAXS patterns of DN–E–6 T undergone the six times of freeze-thawed cycles, with various trained strain (0%, 100%, 150%, 200% and 250%; where 0% represents DN–E–6T without mechanical training) at trained time of 30 minutes. K The nanocrystalline dimension D from WAXS measurements, and intercrystal spacing L from SAXS measurements as a function of trained strain. L Schematic illustration of the long-range ordered nanocrystalline morphology with low-aspect-ratio alignment in which mechanical training regulates both the arrangement of nanofibrils and the aspect ratio of nanocrystals.