Rotational Instability in Superlubric Joints

Cangyu Qu, Songlin Shi, Ming Ma, and Quanshui Zheng
Phys. Rev. Lett. 122, 246101 – Published 21 June 2019
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Abstract

Surface and interfacial energies play important roles in a number of instability phenomena in liquids and soft matter, but rarely have similar effects in solids. Here, a mechanical instability is reported which is controlled by surface and interfacial energies and is valid for a large class of materials, in particular two-dimensional layered materials. When sliding a top flake cleaved from a square microscale graphite mesa by using a probe acting on the flake through a point contact, it was observed that the flake moved unrotationally for a certain distance before it suddenly transferred to a rotating-moving state. The theoretical analysis was consistent with the experimental observation and revealed that this mechanical instability was an interesting effect of the structural superlubricity (a state of nearly zero friction). Further analysis showed that this type of instability was applicable generally for various sliding joints on different scales, as long as the friction was ultralow. Thus, the uncovered mechanism provides useful knowledge for manipulating and controlling these sliding joints, and can guide the design of future superlubricity-based devices.

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  • Received 16 January 2019
  • Revised 15 March 2019

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.122.246101

© 2019 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Interdisciplinary PhysicsCondensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Authors & Affiliations

Cangyu Qu1,2, Songlin Shi1,2, Ming Ma2,3,4, and Quanshui Zheng1,2,3,*

  • 1Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
  • 2Center for Nano and Micro Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
  • 3State Key Laboratory of Tribology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
  • 4Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China

  • *Corresponding author. zhengqs@tsinghua.edu.cn

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Issue

Vol. 122, Iss. 24 — 21 June 2019

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