Thermochemical induced micro-structural changes of geological samples at the nanoscale

Geological materials, such as shales and basalt, are commonly studied geomaterials used for deep geological storage of CO2 and geothermal applications. Previous studies have shown that these materials have a multiscale nature, with dominant features ranging from few centimeters to several nanometers. Although they are frequently studied at the millimeter and micrometer scale, few is known about their microstructural changes at the nanometer scale after being exposed to chemical and thermal loading, usually observed in geological processes. This campaign aims to shed light on the impact of thermally and chemical induced loads on their microsctructure, focusing at the nanoscale. Ex-situ phase-contrast tomography will be used on different specimens before and after the chemical and thermal loading.