Structure-property correlation in metal-oxide aerogels

气凝胶是真正了不起的材料，具有独特的物理性能，包括非凡的隔热能力。机械变形对这些纳米材料的影响尽管有关键的技术兴趣，但人们对此知之甚少。该项目旨在测量各种气凝胶样品对纳米压痕作用力的响应，并利用先进的电子显微镜和离子束分析技术，直接确定原子水平的变形机制。

Aerogels are truly remarkable materials with unique physical properties including extraordinary thermal insulation capabilities. The influence of mechanical deformation on these nanoscale materials is only poorly understood, despite key technological interest. This project aims to measure the response of a variety of aerogels samples to forces applied by nanoindentation and, using advanced electron microscopy and ion-beam analysis techniques, to directly identify the atomic-level deformation mechanisms.