Investigation of mechanical properties of supplies at the nanoscale. The experimental procedure was effectively tested on reference supplies characterized by distinct plastic behavior, e.g., polyethylene naphthalate and hugely oriented pyrolytic graphite. Each hardness and Young’s modulus values obtained from AFM measurements for distinct soot particle films had been discussed. Key phrases: atomic force microscopy; nanoindentation; flameformed carbon nanoparticles; nanostructured films; hardness; Young’s modulus1. Introduction The modelling and experimental activities performed in the final decades to study the formation process of soot particles in combustion systems has led to substantial progresses [1,2]. Flamegenerated Chiglitazar Technical Information particulate matter is rightly considered an environmental concern. A number of research have pointed out that ultrafine combustionformed particles are responsible for distinct adverse effects on human overall health [3,4]. Moreover, soot particle emissions can bring about serious affection with the climate technique [5]. On the other hand, a flame can be also noticed 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 GSK-J5 Protocol nanoparticles is expected to handle the synthesis of soot particles in flames for both the aforementioned objectives. A few of the properties that characterize soot particles and soot particle films have already been already studied and analyzed, like particle size, morphology, carbon andCopyright: 2021 by the authors. Li censee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access write-up distributed below the terms and con ditions of your 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,two ofnanostructure [81], optical and electronical features [6,127], surface properties and interaction forces [180]. However, extremely little is identified in regards to the mechanical properties, such as hardness and elastic modulus. Some theoretical and experimental performs have been published [213], displaying that the mechanical properties of distinctive singlet carbon particles can supply an indication for the crosslinking and the carbonization degree [22,23]. The mechanical behavior and the physical nanostructure of soot particles also proved to become beneficial in understanding tribological effects, like the enhanced wear of mating surfaces covered with soot particles [24]. This mechanism is especially 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. Not too long ago, the fabrication of coatings applying flameformed carbon nanoparticles has come to be incredibly attractive 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.