Investigation of mechanical properties of components at the nanoscale. The experimental procedure was effectively tested on reference components characterized by different plastic behavior, e.g., polyethylene naphthalate and highly oriented pyrolytic graphite. Each hardness and Young’s modulus values obtained from AFM measurements for different soot particle films had been discussed. Keywords and phrases: atomic force microscopy; nanoindentation; flameformed carbon nanoparticles; nanostructured films; hardness; Young’s modulus1. Introduction The modelling and experimental activities performed in the last decades to study the formation method of soot particles in combustion systems has led to substantial progresses [1,2]. Flamegenerated particulate matter is rightly thought of an environmental problem. Quite a few studies have pointed out that ultrafine combustionformed particles are accountable for various adverse effects on human overall health [3,4]. Additionally, soot particle emissions can cause severe affection of your climate method [5]. On the other hand, a flame can be also seen as a reactor for the synthesis of engineered novel carbonaceous nanomaterials [2,6,7]. In light of the above, a deep understanding of the chemistry and the morphology of flameformed carbon nanoparticles is needed to manage the synthesis of soot particles in flames for each the aforementioned objectives. Some of the properties that characterize soot particles and soot particle films have been already studied and analyzed, such as particle size, morphology, carbon andCopyright: 2021 by the authors. Li censee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This short article is an open access short article distributed below the terms and con ditions in the Creative Commons At tribution (CC BY) license (http://crea tivecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).Appl. Sci. 2021, 11, 8448. https://doi.org/10.3390/appwww.mdpi.com/journal/applsciAppl. Sci. 2021, 11,2 ofnanostructure [81], optical and electronical characteristics [6,127], surface properties and interaction forces [180]. On the other hand, really little is known about the mechanical properties, such as hardness and elastic modulus. Some theoretical and experimental performs have been published [213], showing that the mechanical properties of unique singlet carbon particles can deliver an indication for the Rezafungin Data Sheet crosslinking and the carbonization degree [22,23]. The mechanical behavior and the physical nanostructure of soot particles also proved to be helpful in understanding tribological effects, which include the enhanced put on of mating surfaces covered with soot particles [24]. This mechanism is Setrobuvir In Vivo particularly relevant in internal combustion engines which use sootcontaminated oil and lubricants [25] and it could be applied also for designing diesel particulate filters and their regeneration processes. Recently, the fabrication of coatings using flameformed carbon nanoparticles has come to be really eye-catching as a novel method for the synthesis of surfaces with enhanced properties. Nanostructured thin films of carbon nanoparticles from distinct flame synthesis reactor configurations are produced as waterrepellent, superhydrophobic surfaces [268], electrode components for supercapacitors [29] and hole extractor for perovskite solar cells [30]. The characterization.
