Multiscale Characterization of Materials and Processes

Main research lines

Multiscale characterisation with optical and electron microscopy, X-rays, atom force microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, ultrasonic inspection. Some of the equipment we use for this are:
- FIB-FEG-SEM, including 3D-EDS and 3D-EBSD. In-situ stages for thermomechanical testing.
- FEG-TEM including 3D-STEM and 3D-EDS with in-situ stage for mechanical testing.
- X-Ray Tomograph (XCT) with in-situ stage for thermomechanical testing, furnaces for thermal treatments and observation of chemical reactions, in-situ composite curing, in-situ composite infiltration.
- X-ray Diffractometer (XRD) equipped for residual stresses and texture determination, reflectometry analysis, Cu and Cr radiation, linear detector, in-situ furnace.
- Raman micro-spectrometer 5x, 20x, 50x, 100x microscope objectives, 532 nm Nd:YAG laser (50W) and diffraction grating of 1800 l/mm, 100 nm resolution.
Characterisation of broad range of materials, e.g. biomaterials, plastics, metal matrix composites, fibre reinforced composites, metals, nanomaterials, etc.
Use of large facilities such as neutron or synchrotron radiation facilities for characterisation.
Development of new methodologies (e.g. hardware for in situ testing and software tools) for material characterisation and analysis, also applying artificial intelligence methods.
Spectroscopic/microscopic studies and implementation in electrochemical energy storage devices such as Li-ion, Na-ion, Li-S and Li-O₂.

Thermo-mechanical testing across several length scales: tension, compression, fatigue, creep, etc. in the scanning electron microscope and X-ray tomograph.
Properties and deformation mechanisms of small volumes by nanomechanical testing in the scanning and transmission electron microscopes: properties of metallic phases, interfaces, nanoparticles, carbon-based nanomaterials (carbon nanotubes, graphene, etc).
Elevated temperature nanomechanical testing.
4D characterisation of processes by X-ray tomography and X-ray diffraction: e.g. metallic alloy solidification, metallic alloy phase formation and chemical reactions, infiltration and resin flow in composites, composite curing, etc.