Merle, Benoit
PD Dr.-Ing. Benoit Merle
Curriculum Vitae
Scientific Career
Benoit Merle is an expert in nanomechanical testing. He graduated with distinction from the Ecole Centrale de Lyon in France in 2005. After spending a few years as an engineer with Siemens AG, he joined the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg to pursue a PhD on the mechanical behavior of thin films. He obtained his doctorate degree (Dr.-Ing.) with distinction in 2013 (advisor: Prof. M. Göken) and went on to establish the nanomechanics group. He spent the summer 2018 at Texas A&M university on an extended research stay with Prof. George Pharr. Back in Erlangen, he completed his habilitation (Dr.-Ing. habil.) in the field of materials science in May 2019. Since May 2022, he is Associate Professor with the University of Kassel.
Academic Education
05/2019 | Habilitation in Materials Science, FAU, Erlangen |
06/2013 | PhD in Materials Science, FAU, Erlangen |
11/2005 | M.Sc. in Engineering, École Centrale de Lyon, France |
Positions
since 2022 | Associate Professor, University of Kassel |
2019 – 2022 | Privatdozent, Faculty (Akademischer Oberrat a.Z.), Group Leader |
2018 | Visiting Scholar, Texas A&M University, USA |
2013 – 2019 | Faculty (Akademischer Rat a.Z.), Group Leader |
2007 – 2013 | Research Associate |
2006 – 2007 | Engineer, Siemens AG |
Distinctions
Distinctions
He is the author or co-author of >50 publications in international peer-reviewed journals – as listed below – and has also given numerous invited presentations (TMS, DPG, ESMC…) and organized 6 symposia at major international conferences (ICMCTF, E-MRS, TMS). He is Principal Editor of the Journal of Materials Research (JMR). The quality of his work has been acknowledged by the 4 researcher awards that he has received, incl. from the German materials society (DGM) and the Staedtler Foundation. He has also received 3 teaching awards for his lectures at the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg and has been a member of the graduate program committee of the nanotechnology curriculum since 2015. In 2020, he was awarded a prestigious ERC Starting Grant by the European research Council.
2021 | Masing Award, German Society for Materials Research (DGM) |
2020 | ERC Starting Grant, European Research Council |
2020 | Wolfgang Finkelnburg Habilitation Award, Erlangen |
2019 | Best lecture award from the Faculty of Engineering (rank 1/57), Erlangen |
2016 | Best lecture award from the Faculty of Engineering (rank 3/53), Erlangen |
2015 | Best Poster Award at the „Nanomechanical Testing in Materials Research & Development V“ Conference, Albufeira, Portugal |
2015 | Best lecture award from the Faculty of Engineering (rank 1/24), Erlangen |
2014 | Young Researcher Award, German Society for Materials Research (DGM), Darmstadt |
2014 | Best PhD Award, Staedtler Foundation, Nürnberg |
2011 | Best Poster Award at the „Nanomechanical Testing in Materials Research & Development III“ Conference, Lanzarote, Spain |
2009 | Best Poster Award at the „Nanomechanical Testing“ Conference, Barga, Italy |
Research projects
Research Focus
Benoit Merle has a strong research focus on the mechanical characterization of materials in small dimensions by nanoindentation, micromechanical testing and in-situ testing in the electron and atomic force microscopes. He is an expert at developing novel testing methods and applying them to various material systems. He also has a strong background in the fabrication and characterization of thin films and coatings. His current projects are mostly connected to small-scale fatigue, nanotribology and nanoindentation at high strain rates.
Third-party Funding
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European Network for the Mechanics of Matter at the Nano-Scale Funded by the European Cooperation in Science & Technology (COST), 2022-2026 |
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ERC Starting Grant „High-speed deformation and failure of materials at the nanometer scale“ Funded by the European research Council (ERC), 2021-2026 |
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Research Grant „Metallic thin film fatigue dominated by interface character” Cooperation with the Austrian Academy of Sciences DFG funded, 2020-2023 |
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Research Training Programme “In situ Microscopy with Electrons, X-rays and Scanning Probes” Cooperation with the Electron Microscopy and Physics departments DFG funded, 2018-2022 |
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Priority Programme „Fluidless Lubricationsystems with high mechanical Load” Cooperation with the Mechanical Engineering department DFG funded, 2018-2021 |
Projekte [DE]
Publication list
Researcher identifiers
Publications in Web of Science
2022
Gaseous nitriding of Co-10 at% and -15 at% Cr alloys at 400 °C and 450 °C
In: Journal of Alloys and Compounds 907 (2022)
ISSN: 0925-8388
DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2022.164535
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Linking through-thickness cracks in metallic thin films to in-situ electrical resistance peak broadening
In: Scripta Materialia 212 (2022), Art.Nr.: 114550
ISSN: 1359-6462
DOI: 10.1016/j.scriptamat.2022.114550
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Structural reorientation and compaction of porous MoS2 coatings during wear testing
In: Wear 500-501 (2022), Art.Nr.: 204339
ISSN: 0043-1648
DOI: 10.1016/j.wear.2022.204339
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Microstructural evolution and mechanical properties in Zr–Cu–Al–Nb bulk metallic glass composites prepared by laser metal deposition
In: Intermetallics 140 (2022), Art.Nr.: 107393
ISSN: 0966-9795
DOI: 10.1016/j.intermet.2021.107393
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30 Years of Oliver-Pharr: Then, Now and the Future of Nanoindentation
In: JOM Journal of the Minerals, Metals and Materials Society (2022)
ISSN: 1047-4838
DOI: 10.1007/s11837-022-05305-0
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Erratum: Progressive changes in crystallographic textures of biominerals generate functionally graded ceramics (Mater. Adv. (2022) DOI: 10.1039/d1ma01031j)
In: Materials Advances 3 (2022), S. 2598-
ISSN: 2633-5409
DOI: 10.1039/d2ma90020c
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Additive Manufacturing of 3D Luminescent ZrO2:Eu3+ Architectures
In: Advanced Optical Materials (2022)
ISSN: 2195-1071
DOI: 10.1002/adom.202102758
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Evolution of an industrial-grade Zr-based bulk metallic glass during multiple laser beam melting
In: Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids 589 (2022), S. 121649
ISSN: 0022-3093
DOI: 10.1016/j.jnoncrysol.2022.121649
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2021
Breakdown of the superplastic deformation behavior of heterogeneous nanomaterials at small length scales
In: Materials Research Letters 9 (2021), S. 41-49
ISSN: 2166-3831
DOI: 10.1080/21663831.2020.1818323
URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/21663831.2020.1818323
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Microcantilever Fracture Tests on Eutectic NiAl–Cr(Mo) In Situ Composites
In: Advanced Engineering Materials (2021)
ISSN: 1438-1656
DOI: 10.1002/adem.202001464
URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/adem.202001464
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Grain boundary mediated plasticity: A blessing for the ductility of metallic thin films?
In: Acta Materialia 215 (2021), Art.Nr.: 117079
ISSN: 1359-6454
DOI: 10.1016/j.actamat.2021.117079
URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1359645421004596/pdfft?isDTMRedir=true&download=true
, , , , :
Ti3C2Tx Solid Lubricant Coatings in Rolling Bearings with Remarkable Performance beyond State-of-the-Art Materials
In: Applied Materials Today 25 (2021), S. 1-9
ISSN: 2352-9407
DOI: 10.1016/j.apmt.2021.101202
URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352940721002663?dgcid=coauthor
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Current trends in nanomechanical testing research
In: Journal of Materials Research (2021)
ISSN: 0884-2914
DOI: 10.1557/s43578-021-00280-9
URL: https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1557/s43578-021-00280-9.pdf
, , , :
Applicability of focused Ion beam (FIB) milling with gallium, neon, and xenon to the fracture toughness characterization of gold thin films
In: Journal of Materials Research (2021)
ISSN: 0884-2914
DOI: 10.1557/s43578-020-00045-w
URL: https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1557/s43578-020-00045-w.pdf
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Amorphous Carbon Coatings for Total Knee Replacements—Part II: Tribological Behavior
In: Polymers 13 (2021), S. 1 - 25
ISSN: 2073-4360
DOI: 10.3390/polym13111880
URL: https://www.archiv.mfk.tf.fau.de?file=pubmfk_60bb59ba4432e
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Amorphous Carbon Coatings for Total Knee Replacements—Part I: Deposition, Cytocompatibility, Chemical and Mechanical Properties
In: Polymers 13 (2021), S. 1 - 23
ISSN: 2073-4360
DOI: 10.3390/polym13121952
URL: https://www.archiv.mfk.tf.fau.de?file=pubmfk_60c364643981f
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Microstructure, mechanical properties and tribological behavior of magnetron-sputtered mos2 solid lubricant coatings deposited under industrial conditions
In: Coatings 11 (2021), Art.Nr.: 455
ISSN: 2079-6412
DOI: 10.3390/coatings11040455
URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6412/11/4/455/pdf
, , , , , :
A scale-bridging study of the influence of TCP phases on the mechanical properties of an additive manufactured Ni-base superalloy combining microcompression testing, X-ray nanotomography and TEM
In: Microscopy and Microanalysis 27 (2021), S. 938-942
ISSN: 1431-9276
DOI: 10.1017/S1431927621003603
, , , , , , , , , :
Progressive changes in crystallographic textures of biominerals generate functionally graded ceramics
In: Materials Advances (2021)
ISSN: 2633-5409
DOI: 10.1039/d1ma01031j
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Influence of Surfactant-Mediated Interparticle Contacts on the Mechanical Stability of Supraparticles
In: Journal of Physical Chemistry C (2021)
ISSN: 1932-7447
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.1c06839
, , , , , , , :
Mechanics of colloidal supraparticles under compression
In: Science Advances 7 (2021), Art.Nr.: eabj0954
ISSN: 2375-2548
DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abj0954
, , , , , , , , :
Evaluation of the surface fatigue behavior of amorphous carbon coatings through cyclic nanoindentation
In: Surface & Coatings Technology 407 (2021), Art.Nr.: 126769
ISSN: 0257-8972
DOI: 10.1016/j.surfcoat.2020.126769
URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0257897220314390
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2020
Small-scale high-cycle fatigue testing by dynamic microcantilever bending
In: MRS Communications (2020)
ISSN: 2159-6859
DOI: 10.1557/mrc.2020.31
URL: https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1557/mrc.2020.31.pdf
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Effect of cold sintering process (CSP) on the electro-chemo-mechanical properties of Gd-doped ceria (GDC)
In: Journal of the European Ceramic Society 40 (2020), S. 5612-5618
ISSN: 0955-2219
DOI: 10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2020.06.010
, , , , , , :
The role of oxygen defects on the electro-chemo-mechanical properties of highly defective gadolinium doped ceria
In: Materials Letters 266 (2020), Art.Nr.: 127490
ISSN: 0167-577X
DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2020.127490
, , , :
Revealing the local fatigue behavior of bimodal copper laminates by micropillar fatigue tests
In: Materials Science and Engineering A-Structural Materials Properties Microstructure and Processing 788 (2020), Art.Nr.: 139502
ISSN: 0921-5093
DOI: 10.1016/j.msea.2020.139502
, , , :
Effective usage of 2D MXene nanosheets as solid lubricant – Influence of contact pressure and relative humidity
In: Applied Surface Science 531 (2020), S. 1-10
ISSN: 0169-4332
DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2020.147311
URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169433220320687?dgcid=coauthor
, , , , , , , , , :
Extending the range of constant strain rate nanoindentation testing
In: Journal of Materials Research (2020)
ISSN: 0884-2914
DOI: 10.1557/jmr.2019.408
URL: https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1557/jmr.2019.408.pdf
, , :
Fracture toughness evaluation of a cracked au thin film by applying a finite element analysis and bulge test
18th International Conference on Fracture and Damage Mechanics, FDM 2019 (Rhodes, 16. September 2019 - 18. September 2019)
In: Key Engineering Materials 2020
DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.827.196
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2019
High-pressure synthesis of ultraincompressible hard rhenium nitride pernitride Re2(N2)(N)2 stable at ambient conditions
In: Nature Communications 10 (2019), Art.Nr.: 2994
ISSN: 2041-1723
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-10995-3
, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , :
Conical nanoindentation allows azimuthally independent hardness determination in geological and biogenic minerals
In: Materials 12 (2019), Art.Nr.: 1630
ISSN: 1996-1944
DOI: 10.3390/ma12101630
, , , :
Additional grain boundary strengthening in length-scale architectured copper with ultrafine and coarse domains
In: Scripta Materialia 165 (2019), S. 55-59
ISSN: 1359-6462
DOI: 10.1016/j.scriptamat.2019.02.019
, , :
Creep behavior of gold thin films investigated by bulge testing at room and elevated temperature
In: Journal of Materials Research 34 (2019), S. 69-77
ISSN: 0884-2914
DOI: 10.1557/jmr.2018.287
:
Critical issues in conducting constant strain rate nanoindentation tests at higher strain rates
In: Journal of Materials Research (2019)
ISSN: 0884-2914
DOI: 10.1557/jmr.2019.292
, , :
Microstructural dependence of the fracture toughness of metallic thin films: A bulge test and atomistic simulation study on single-crystalline and polycrystalline silver films
In: Journal of Materials Research 34 (2019), S. 3483-3494
ISSN: 0884-2914
DOI: 10.1557/jmr.2019.262
URL: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-materials-research/article/microstructural-dependence-of-the-fracture-toughness-of-metallic-thin-films-a-bulge-test-and-atomistic-simulation-study-on-singlecrystalline-and-polycrystalline-silver-films/73FEF9FD56EFF314E1366003EFFE8C5B#
, , , , , , , , :
2018
Superplastic deformation behavior of Zn-22% Al alloy investigated by nanoindentation at elevated temperatures
In: Materials & Design 153 (2018), S. 71-79
ISSN: 0264-1275
DOI: 10.1016/j.matdes.2018.05.008
, , :
Room temperature deposition of functional ceramic films on low-cost metal substrate
In: Ceramics International 44 (2018), S. 16295-16301
ISSN: 0272-8842
DOI: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2018.06.027
, , , , , :
Influence of stacking fault energy and dislocation character on slip transfer at coherent twin boundaries studied by micropillar compression
In: Acta Materialia 154 (2018), S. 261-272
ISSN: 1359-6454
DOI: 10.1016/j.actamat.2018.05.037
, , , :
Microscale High-Cycle Fatigue Testing by Dynamic Micropillar Compression Using Continuous Stiffness Measurement
In: Experimental Mechanics 58 (2018), S. 465-474
ISSN: 0014-4851
DOI: 10.1007/s11340-017-0362-3
, :
Dynamic mechanical characterization of poly(glycerol sebacate)/poly (butylene succinate-butylene dilinoleate) blends for cardiac tissue engineering by flat punch nanoindentation
In: Materials Letters 221 (2018), S. 115-118
ISSN: 0167-577X
DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2018.03.051
, , , , , , , :
Scaling of the fracture toughness of freestanding metallic thin films with the yield strength
In: Materials Research Letters 6 (2018), S. 607-612
ISSN: 2166-3831
DOI: 10.1080/21663831.2018.1520749
, , , :
2017
Determination of the strain-rate sensitivity of ultrafine-grained materials by spherical nanoindentation
In: Journal of Materials Research 32 (2017), S. 1466-1473
ISSN: 0884-2914
DOI: 10.1557/jmr.2017.69
, , :
Influencing Hardness and Wear During the Dynamic Tempered Microinjection Molding Process by Considering Isothermal Holding Time
In: Polymer Engineering and Science 57 (2017), S. 121-128
ISSN: 0032-3888
DOI: 10.1002/pen.24394
, , , , :
Plane-strain bulge testing of thin films under compressive residual stresses
In: Surface & Coatings Technology 327 (2017), S. 167-173
ISSN: 0257-8972
DOI: 10.1016/j.surfcoat.2017.08.004
, , :
Influence of modulus-to-hardness ratio and harmonic parameters on continuous stiffness measurement during nanoindentation
In: Acta Materialia 134 (2017), S. 167-176
ISSN: 1359-6454
DOI: 10.1016/j.actamat.2017.05.036
, , :
Micromechanical characterization of laser consolidated nanoparticle ITO layers
In: Thin Solid Films 642 (2017), S. 214-218
ISSN: 0040-6090
DOI: 10.1016/j.tsf.2017.09.046
, , , , , :
Understanding the Extremely Low Fracture Toughness of Freestanding Gold Thin Films by In-situ Bulge Testing in an AFM
In: Materials Science and Engineering A-Structural Materials Properties Microstructure and Processing 691 (2017), S. 218-225
ISSN: 0921-5093
DOI: 10.1016/j.msea.2017.03.037
URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921509317303271
, , :
High-performance direct conversion X-ray detectors based on sintered hybrid lead triiodide perovskite wafers
In: Nature Photonics 11 (2017), S. 436-+
ISSN: 1749-4885
DOI: 10.1038/NPHOTON.2017.94
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Isolating the effect of residual stresses on coating wear by a mechanical stress relaxation technique
In: Thin Solid Films 638 (2017), S. 159 - 166
ISSN: 0040-6090
DOI: 10.1016/j.tsf.2017.06.016
URL: https://www.archiv.mfk.tf.fau.de?file=pubmfk_5a6af86239b18
, , , , :
2016
Fracture toughness evaluation of NiAl single crystals by microcantilevers-a new continuous J-integral method
In: Journal of Materials Research 31 (2016), S. 3786-3794
ISSN: 0884-2914
DOI: 10.1557/jmr.2016.393
URL: https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-fau/files/8989/Ast_fracture_toughness.pdf
, , , :
Mechanical characterization of metallic thin films by bulge and scratch testing
In: Surface & Coatings Technology 289 (2016), S. 69-74
ISSN: 0257-8972
DOI: 10.1016/j.surfcoat.2016.01.051
, , , , , :
A flexible method for the preparation of thin film samples for in situ TEM characterization combining shadow-FIB milling and electron beam-assisted etching
In: Ultramicroscopy 171 (2016), S. 82-88
ISSN: 0304-3991
DOI: 10.1016/j.ultramic.2016.09.004
, , , , , , , :
An improved method for point deflection measurements on rectangular membranes
In: Materials & Design 109 (2016), S. 485-491
ISSN: 0264-1275
DOI: 10.1016/j.matdes.2016.07.054
, , , :
2015
Time-dependent deformation behavior of freestanding and SiNx-supported gold thin films investigated by bulge tests
In: Journal of Materials Research 30 (2015), S. 2161-2169
ISSN: 0884-2914
DOI: 10.1557/jmr.2015.184
URL: https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-fau/files/7997/Merle_time-dependent.pdf
, , :
2014
Bulge fatigue testing of freestanding and supported gold films
In: Journal of Materials Research 29 (2014), S. 267-276
ISSN: 0884-2914
DOI: 10.1557/jmr.2013.373
URL: https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-fau/files/6426/merle_bulge.pdf
, :
Experimental and theoretical confirmation of the scaling exponent 2 in pyramidal load displacement data for depth sensing indentation
In: Scanning 36 (2014), S. 526-529
ISSN: 0161-0457
DOI: 10.1002/sca.21151
, , :
2013
Poly(glycerol sebacate)\poly(butylene succinate-dilinoleate) blends as candidate materials for cardiac tissue engineering
In: Macromolecular Symposia 334 (2013), S. 57-67
ISSN: 1521-3900
DOI: 10.1002/masy.201300114
URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/masy.201300114
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An improved long-term nanoindentation creep testing approach for studying the local deformation processes in nanocrystalline metals at room and elevated temperatures
In: Journal of Materials Research 28 (2013), S. 1177-1188
ISSN: 0884-2914
DOI: 10.1557/jmr.2013.39
URL: https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-fau/frontdoor/deliver/index/docId/5014/file/Maier_Improved.pdf
, , , :
Poly(glycerol sebacate)\Poly(butylene succinate-dilinoleate) Blends as Candidate Materials for Cardiac Tissue Engineering
DOI: 10.1002/masy.201300114
URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/masy.201300114
, , , , , , , , , , , , :
Poly(glycerol sebacate)\Poly(butylene succinate-dilinoleate) Blends as Candidate Materials for Cardiac Tissue Engineering
In: Macromolecular Symposia 334 (2013), S. 57–67
ISSN: 1022-1360
DOI: 10.1002/masy.201300114
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2012
Comment to paper "penetration depth and tip radius dependence on the correction factor in nanoindentation measurements" by J.M. Meza et al. [J. Mater. Res. 23(3), 725 (2008)]
In: Journal of Materials Research 27 (2012), S. 1205-1207
ISSN: 0884-2914
DOI: 10.1557/jmr.2012.41
, , :
Comment to paper "Penetration depth and tip radius dependence on the correction factor in nanoindentation measurements" by JM Meza et al. [J. Mater. Res. 23(3), 725 (2008)]
In: Journal of Materials Research 27 (2012), S. 1205-1207
ISSN: 0884-2914
DOI: 10.1557/jmr.2012.41
(anderer)
, , :
Experimental determination of the effective indenter shape and epsilon-factor for nanoindentation by continuously measuring the unloading stiffness
In: Journal of Materials Research 27 (2012), S. 214-221
ISSN: 0884-2914
DOI: 10.1557/jmr.2011.245
URL: https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-fau/files/2988/merle_experimental_4245.pdf
, , , :
Experimental determination of the effective indenter shape and ε-factor for nanoindentation by continuously measuring the unloading stiffness
In: Journal of Materials Research 27 (2012), S. 214-221
ISSN: 0884-2914
DOI: 10.1557/jmr.2011.245
URL: https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-fau/files/2988/merle_experimental_4245.pdf
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Thickness and grain size dependence of the strength of copper thin films as investigated with bulge tests and nanoindentations
In: Philosophical Magazine 92 (2012), S. 3172-3187
ISSN: 0031-8086
DOI: 10.1080/14786435.2012.685773
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Effect of thermal annealing on the mechanical properties of low-emissivity physical vapor deposited multilayer-coatings for architectural applications
In: Thin Solid Films 520 (2012), S. 7130-7135
ISSN: 0040-6090
DOI: 10.1016/j.tsf.2012.07.086
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2011
Fracture toughness of silicon nitride thin films of different thicknesses as measured by bulge tests
In: Acta Materialia 59 (2011), S. 1772-1779
ISSN: 1359-6454
DOI: 10.1016/j.actamat.2010.11.043
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Flexural strength of PVD coated float glass for architectural applications
In: Glass Technology-European Journal of Glass Science and Technology Part A 52 (2011), S. 190-196
ISSN: 1753-3546
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