Research Services · Bern
The "Mechanics of Materials and Nanostructures" laboratory is part of the "Advanced Materials and Surfaces" department at EMPA, the "Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology" We investigate mechanical materials properties from the nano to macro-scale using experimental, analytical, and computational techniques. Current cutting edge research within European projects and the ETH competence center on high temperature materials focuses on micro- and nano- mechanical properties of materials (instrumentation, scale effects related to microstructure and physical dimension). For this purpose, we (a) develop metallic model materials either via electrodeposition in combination with UV- and electron beam lithography, nanoporous membranes and via focused electron or ion beam processing and (b) push resolution frontiers of materials microanalysis instrumentation, for instance of glow discharge based surface depth profiling and tip enhanced micro-Raman spectroscopy. We focus on solutions for Swiss SMEs to increase mechanical reliability, production efficiency, and lifespan of new materials and systems ranging from thin films, watch parts and solar cells to power plant components.