Manuel Palacio and Bharat Bhushan 2008 Nanotechnology 19 315710 doi:10.1088/0957-4484/19/31/315710
Manuel Palacio and Bharat Bhushan1
Show affiliationsFuture micro/nanodevices will contain very small features such that liquid lubrication is not practical and inherent lubricity is needed. In this study, a nanoscale friction investigation was carried out during the manipulation of Au and SiO2 nanoparticles on silicon using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Nanoparticle sliding was characterized by quantifying the lateral force associated with the AFM tip twisting as it hits the particle edge. The friction force varies with particle area and humidity, illustrating how meniscus forces on nanoparticles affect friction. A large tip slid on the nanoparticle-coated surface exhibited friction reduction due to nanoparticle sliding and contact area reduction.
62.25.-g Mechanical properties of nanoscale systems
62.20.Qp Friction, tribology, and hardness
68.35.Af Atomic scale friction
Surfaces, interfaces and thin films
Issue 31 (6 August 2008)
Received 29 April 2008, in final form 28 May 2008
Published 24 June 2008
Manuel Palacio and Bharat Bhushan 2008 Nanotechnology 19 315710
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