In-situ Bragg Coherent X-ray Diffraction Imaging of Pt nanoparticles during nano-indentation

Defects in nanocrystals have a critical influence and a single defect can completely modify their properties. Due to the close proximity of surfaces, the energy and mobility of defects in nano-objects are borne to be very different from what they are in the bulk. We propose to perform in-situ experiments combining nano-indentation using a custom-built AFM and Bragg Coherent Diffraction Imaging (BCDI). The latter is highly sensitive to strain and defects making it the ideal technique to study the elastic and plastic response of a nanostructure during mechanical loading. In this proposal, we intend to follow the onset of plasticity in probed Pt nanoparticles, and hence determine the needed shear stress to generate defects.