| The thesis investigates a class of novel materials: freestanding nanoparticle films. The films were self-assembled from man-made "atoms," a hybrid material consisting of inorganic nanoparticle cores surrounded by a shell of capping ligands. As freestanding films that are supported by a substrate only along their edge and contain a single layer of nanoparticles, these systems represent the ultimate two-dimensional limit of nanoparticle-based solids. The main focus is on nanomechanics of ultrathin films (monolayers up to few layers) comprised of close-packed metal nanocrystals (Au, Fe/Fe3O 4, Co). Due to strong interactions between interdigitated ligands, the system exhibits remarkable tensile stiffness (Young's modulus in the range of several GPa) and high flexibility. The overall mechanical properties depend on characteristics of the nanoparticles, such as their size, and of the ligands, such as their length and organization inside the interstices between the particles. Exposing freestanding nanoparticle films to electron beams introduces strain in a highly controlled way. This process can be used to deliberately introduce strain gradients and create a variety of nanoscale patterns in the films by first cutting the films surgically with ion beams and subsequently exposing them to electron-beams. Tracking the local particle displacements during such controlled straining allowed for the first direct measurement for Poisson's ratio in nanoparticle films. Finally, we explored the performance of such ultrathin, freestanding films as nanomechanical drumhead resonators. A high-frequency scanning laser interferometer system was constructed that was capable of detecting the very small, thermally induced drumhead motion. Using this system, the spatial drumhead mode patterns were imaged for the first time. |
