Fabrication, characterization and testing of thin films with novel microstructures

A new approach is presented to produce uniform thickness, electron-transparent, free-standing single-phase or multiphase thin films with nanocrystalline grain sizes that lend themselves readily to in situ heating and straining in a transmission electron microscope. The second phase in the multiphase films is in the form of through-thickness rods, and their diameter, spacing and spatial arrangement can be controlled. Preliminary results of deformation studies on such films are presented.