Plasticity, fatigue, and fracture of materials arise from localized deformation processes, which can be altered by the materials’ environment. Unravelling these mechanisms at variable temperatures and different atmospheres (like hydrogen), are essential to enhance mechanical performance and lifespan. This requires to understand the microstructure and its evolution down to the atomic level. The department is dedicated to crafting materials with superior mechanical properties by elucidating deformation mechanisms. This involves employing advanced transmission electron microscopy techniques and conducting nano-/micromechanical tests on complex, micro-architectured and/or miniaturized materials.