Material Properties of Nanocrystals

纳米晶体的机械特性决定了纳米技术领域出现的许多新的应用和装置的可行性。尽管它们具有基本的重要性，但人们对这些纳米晶体的机械性能了解得很模糊，因为它们的尺寸限制了它们的测量。在这个项目中，我们将首次使用理论建模、原子力显微镜和一种允许测量纳米晶体实际变形的新形式的光谱分析来研究这些材料的机械性能。所获得的基本科学知识预计将对当前和未来纳米设备的发展产生影响。

The mechanical characteristics of nanocrystals determine the viability of many novel applications and devices emerging from the field of nanotechnology. Despite their fundamental importance, the mechanical properties of these nanocrystals is only vaguely understood, because their size has prohibited their measurement. In this project, we shall investigate the mechanical properties of these materials for the first time using a combination of theoretical modelling, atomic force microscopy, and a new form of spectroscopy that allows the actual deformation of nanocrystals to be measured. The fundamental scientific knowledge gained is expected to impact on the development of current and future nanodevices.