Metallic nanostructures

The aim of the project is to study the mechanisms behind the formation of metallic nanostructures and to investigate the structural, mechanical, and electrical properties of nanostructures. The project has involved studies of atomic mobility at surfaces and the aggregation of adatoms into islands of various morphologies. Also investigations of mechanical and electrical aspects of a scanning-tunneling-microscope tip interacting with a metal surface have been carried out. In particular the tip-surface system has been used as a model system for nanotribological considerations. Finally, a series of simulations of plastic deformation of nanophase metals have been performed.