Laboratory for Mechanics of Materials and Nanostructures
We investigate mechanical materials properties from the nano to macro-scale using experimental, analytical, and computational techniques. Current cutting edge research within European projects and the ETH competence center on high temperature materials focuses on micro- and nano- mechanical properties of materials (instrumentation, scale effects related to microstructure and physical dimension. For this purpose, we (a) develop metallic model materials either via electrodeposition in combination with UV- and electron beam lithography, nanoporous membranes and via focused electron or ion beam processing and (b) push resolution frontiers of materials microanalysis instrumentation, for instance of glow discharge based surface depth profiling and tip enhanced micro-Raman spectroscopy. We focus on solutions for Swiss SMEs to increase mechanical reliability, production efficiency, and lifespan of new materials and systems ranging from thin films, watch parts and solar cells to power plant components.
Research Activities
Materials Mechanics and Nanomechanics
Macroscopically mechanical properties are dominated by a statistical distribution of defects with characteristic length scales like size and distribution of flaws in brittle fracture (100mm), or dislocation interdistance in metal plasticity (100nm). As dimensions are scaled down below the characteristic length, material properties become controlled by geometrical constraints. This includes physical device dimensions as well as microstructure length scales like grain size. …… more
Nanostructuring of metals
Conventional optical lithographic techniques that form the basis of integrated-circuit chip fabrication can already be used to create sub-100 nm features, but requires huge investments. We explore new nanostructuring strategies for metals based on electrochemical and charged particle beam lithography techniques. On the one hand, electron and ion beam induced deposition is an attractive nanofabrication tool due to its capability of depositing structures of metallic material with nanoscale control of both size and placement. ….. more
Microanalysis
Pushing frontiers in nanomechanics and nanostructuring requires often research in analytical instrumentation (miniaturized test equipment, nanomanipulation devices, surface analysis). We explore depth resolution frontiers of glow discharge optical emission sprectroscopy by developing correction algorithms for hydrogen and dc bias effects, by modelling rf circuits and by introducing a pulsed rf-source. ….more
Services
The topics of our high quality services are closely related to the research activities mentioned above. For applied research for industries, SMEs, associations, federal agencies and private customers we maintain a modern and efficient testing infrastructure and analytic equipments. We characterise in particular mechanical properties of materials, provide state of the art surface and microstructure analysis facilities and offer prototyping facilities for surface patterning via UV-, electron- and ion beam patterning methods.
Affiliation
Laboratory for Mechanics of Materials and Nanostructures Empa - Materials Science & Technology Feuerwerkstr. 39 CH-3602 Thun
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