🔬 Skoltech researchers uncover how nanocoatings dissipate energy at the nanoscale to prevent failure

An international research team featuring Professor Alexander Korsunsky from the Skoltech Engineering Center has, for the first time, performed direct measurements of mechanical stresses at the contact between a diamond indenter and a complex nanostructured coating with a resolution of under 80 nanometers. Using synchrotron X‑ray nanodiffraction at the ESRF facility in Grenoble, the scientists showed that a multilayer coating made of ceramic ZrN with amorphous ZrCu interlayers dissipates elastic energy 30% more effectively than its monolithic counterpart, preventing crack propagation.

More about the study:

🔹 in our cards;
🔹 in the detailed article on the Skoltech website;
🔹 in the publication in Communications Materials (Springer‑Nature).

Skoltech is part of the VEB.RF group.