• Featured in Physics

Frictional Duality Observed during Nanoparticle Sliding

Dirk Dietzel, Claudia Ritter, Tristan Mönninghoff, Harald Fuchs, André Schirmeisen, and Udo D. Schwarz
Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 125505 – Published 19 September 2008
Physics logo

Abstract

One of the most fundamental questions in tribology concerns the area dependence of friction at the nanoscale. Here, experiments are presented where the frictional resistance of nanoparticles is measured by pushing them with the tip of an atomic force microscope. We find two coexisting frictional states: While some particles show finite friction increasing linearly with the interface areas of up to 310000nm2, other particles assume a state of frictionless sliding. The results further suggest a link between the degree of surface contamination and the occurrence of this duality.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 15 May 2008

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.101.125505

©2008 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Dirk Dietzel1,2, Claudia Ritter3, Tristan Mönninghoff1, Harald Fuchs1,2, André Schirmeisen1,*, and Udo D. Schwarz3

  • 1Physikalisches Institut and Center for Nanotechnology (CeNTech), Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
  • 2INT, Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe (FZK), Karlsruhe, Germany
  • 3Department of Mechanical Engineering and Center for Research on Interface Structures and Phenomena (CRISP), Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA

  • *schirmeisen@uni-muenster.de

See Also

To Slide or Not to Slide

Don Monroe
Phys. Rev. Focus 22, 10 (2008)

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 101, Iss. 12 — 19 September 2008

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review Letters

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×