A graphen
nanoribbon was anchored at the tip of a atomic force microscope
and dragged over a
gold surface. The observed friction force was extremely low.
(Image: University
of Basel, Department of Physics)
(February 25, 2016) Graphene,
a modified form of carbon, offers versatile potential for use in coating
machine components and in the field of electronic switches. An international
team of researchers led by physicists at the University of Basel have been
studying the lubricity of this material on the nanometer scale. Since it
produces almost no friction at all, it could drastically reduce energy loss in
machines when used as a coating, as the researchers report in the journal
Science.
In future, graphene could be used as an extremely thin
coating, resulting in almost zero energy loss between mechanical parts. This is
based on the exceptionally high lubricity – or so-called superlubricity – of
modified carbon in the form of graphene. Applying this property to mechanical
and electromechanical devices would not only improve energy efficiency but also
considerably extend the service life of the equipment.
Fathoming out the causes of the lubricant behavior
An international community of physicists from the University
of Basel and the Empa have studied the above-average lubricity of graphene
using a two-pronged approach combining experimentation and computation. To do
this, they anchored two-dimensional strips of carbon atoms – so-called graphene
nanoribbons – to a sharp tip and dragged them across a gold surface.
Computer-based calculations were used to investigate the interactions between
the surfaces as they moved across one another. Using this approach, the
research team led by Prof. Ernst Meyer at the University of Basel is hoping to
fathom out the causes of superlubricity; until now, little research has been
carried out in this area.