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Nanomechanics
Charles Barbour, SNL
Mike Nastasi, LANL
 Description:
The Nanomechanics theme will build upon capabilities in synthesis
and characterization of the mechanical behavior of nanostructured
materials and devices. The capabilities and expertise within the
thrust area will support user programs and target general scientific
challenges in nanomechanics. Scientific challenges in this area
include the development of new materials with novel mechanical
properties based upon tailored nanostructures; understanding how
mechanical responses such as energy dissipation, mechanical coupling
within arrays of components, and mechanical nonlinearities are
influenced by structuring components at the nanometer length scale;
understanding electrical, magnetic and optical properties derived
from strained atoms at interfaces and surfaces in nanoscale materials;
exploring the mechanical behavior of functional nanoscale objects
such as biological and biomolecular components; interpretation
of unusual mechanical behavior (e.g., strengths approaching the
theoretical limit) of nanostructured materials; and exploration
of new ways to integrate diverse classes of mechanically functional
materials on the nanoscale.
Overall, this work, and its integration with other thrust areas
in CINT, will provide a scientific basis for designing machines
that perform work at nanometer length scales by coupling mechanical,
optical, (bio)chemical and electrical energy, and will develop
means to control mechanical responses across length scales ranging
from nano to micro and larger. Linkage of this thrust to other
CINT capabilities will be key, and will allow exploration of topics
such as electronic, magnetic and optical properties of atomic
arrangements stabilized at strained interfaces in nanoscale materials,
the nanomechanics and nanotribology of biomolecular systems and
biomaterials, and the development of new theories, for example
ones based upon discrete plasticity events as opposed to continuum
processes, to interpret the unusual mechanical behavior of nanostructured
materials.
Key equipment and facilities at full operation:
Nanoscale synthesis:
Physical vapor deposition (evaporation, sputtering, pulsed
laser deposition) equipment with in-situ stress measurement and
surface analysis tools.
Chemical vapor deposition and electrodeposition.
Focused ion beam.
Photo- and e-beam lithography.
Nanomechanical behavior:
Nanoindentation and nanotribology with interfacial force and
atomic force microscopies (IFM and AFM).
Miniature tensile tester.
Fatigue and creep testing equipment for MEMS/NEMS structures.
MEMS/NEMS-type in situ tensile straining stages for TEM, IFM
and AFM.
Nano-tribology testing in controlled atmosphere.
Equipment and facilities at startup:
Physical vapor deposition.
Nanoindentation.
Nanotribology.
Electron microscopy facility.
Ion-beam analysis.
Neutron scattering.
Programs and personnel at startup: Existing programs
will be leveraged to support thrust activities during the center's
start up phase. Current programs are studying the mechanical properties
of nanostructured materials, the fatigue response of nanostructured
materials, and how the tailoring of interfacial stress and atomic
arrangements in nanoscale systems can influence electrical, magnetic
and optical properties.
Scientists who will contribute to the thrust area include the
thrust leaders and their collaborators (M. Nastasi, A. Misra,
R. G. Hoagland, J. G. Swadener, J. C. Barbour, J. Houston, S.
Myers, L. Holm, S. J. Hearne, D. Follstaedt).
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