Former Research Groups

The key to establish a fundamental understanding of the links between synthesis, microstructure and properties is to characterize materials on all hierarchical levels of microstructure. Advanced Transmission Electron Microscopy offers versatile techniques enabling the analysis of atomic arrangements, microchemistry, defect structures, interfacial phenomena and precipitate structures. The development and application of advanced TEM techniques, including atomic resolution aberration-corrected imaging, analytical TEM and in-situ TEM are major areas of research. [more]

Interfaces, such as surfaces or grain boundaries, play a crucial role in determining the global mechanical behaviour and properties of materials. These interfaces can act as barriers to dislocation motion, influencing the strength, ductility, and fracture behaviour of materials. In addition, chemical reactions or varying chemical composition at these interfaces can affect the mechanical properties of materials, along with corrosion resistance and wear behaviour. Understanding the micromechanical behaviour at these interfaces is therefore critical for the design and optimisation of materials for a wide range of applications, from structural materials to electronic devices or batteries. [more]

The scientific mission of the Nano-/Micromechanics of Materials group is to extract mechanical properties of materials at the microstructural length scale and link the mechanical response with the initial and evolving defect structure. The primary focus therefore lies on the deformation response of individual single crystals, bi-crystals or selected interfaces – where metallic thin-film systems are of particular interest. [more]

Formerly Nanotribology group
“Tribology” is the study of friction and wear. Both mechanisms occur in the majority of transportation and manufacturing equipment and the friction induced energy loss is around 30-40%. Hence, the reduction of friction leads to a reduction of the energy requirement and therefore environmental and financial protection. [more]

The group focusses on the development and synthesis of novel nanostructured thin films, while exploring their physical and mechanical properties for both fundamental and applied science. Motivating the group’s work is the requirement of novel high-performance thin films with superior structural and functional properties for advanced applications such as micro-/nanoelectronics, energy production, sensors and wear protection. In particular, intrinsic but mutually exclusive structural properties such as high strength and ductility must be combined, but also the resistance to harsh conditions such as corrosive environments, wear, and high temperature be improved. [more]