Atomic-Scale Sliding Friction on Graphene in Water

The sliding of a sharp nanotip on graphene completely immersed in water is investigated by molecular dynamics (MD) and atomic force microscopy. MD simulations predict that the atomic-scale stick–slip is almost identical to that found in ultrahigh vacuum. Furthermore, they show that water plays a pur...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inACS nano Vol. 10; no. 4; pp. 4288 - 4293
Main Authors Vilhena, J. G, Pimentel, Carlos, Pedraz, Patricia, Luo, Feng, Serena, Pedro A, Pina, Carlos M, Gnecco, Enrico, Pérez, Rubén
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States American Chemical Society 26.04.2016
Subjects
steered molecular dynamics
nanoscale
vacuum
friction in water
lattice resolution
friction force microscopy
molecular dynamics
water
friction
nanoasperity
graphene
hydration layers
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Summary:The sliding of a sharp nanotip on graphene completely immersed in water is investigated by molecular dynamics (MD) and atomic force microscopy. MD simulations predict that the atomic-scale stick–slip is almost identical to that found in ultrahigh vacuum. Furthermore, they show that water plays a purely stochastic role in sliding (solid-to-solid) friction. These observations are substantiated by friction measurements on graphene grown on Cu and Ni, where, oppositely of the operation in air, lattice resolution is readily achieved. Our results promote friction force microscopy in water as a robust alternative to ultra-high-vacuum measurements.
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ISSN:1936-0851
1936-086X
DOI:10.1021/acsnano.5b07825