Contrast in nanoscale friction between rotational domains of graphene on Pt(111). (March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chan, Nicholas; Balakrishna, S.G.; Klemenz, Andreas; Moseler, Michael; Egberts, Philip; Bennewitz, Roland
• Is Part Of: Carbon. Volume 113(2017)
• Page Start: 132
• Page End: 138
• Publication Date: 2017-03
• Subjects: Atomic force microscope (AFM) -- Graphene -- Platinum -- Nanotribology -- Chemical vapor deposition (CVD); Carbon -- Periodicals; Carbone -- Périodiques; Koolstof; Toepassingen; Electronic journals; 546.681
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbon.2016.11.016
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0008-6223

Abstract

Abstract: The nanoscale lubrication properties of graphene depend on chemical functionalization, adsorbants, and bonding to the substrate. The dependence of friction on the rotational orientation of graphene on a Pt(111) surface was studied by high-resolution friction force microscopy in ultra-high vacuum and interpreted through complementary simulations. Lateral forces reveal an atomic-scale stick-slip motion with the periodicity of the graphene structure. Additionally, the lateral forces were modulated by a Moiré pattern, which depends on the rotation of the respective domain. Comparing the experimental results to simulations of the friction process based on the Prandtl-Tomlinson model and to atomistic simulations of the tip-sample interactions, it was found that the modulation of lateral forces originated from a structural mismatch between Pt(111) and graphene domains that were locally pinned to the substrate. Domains with preferred orientations, such as the R1° and the R24°, appeared to exhibit lower average friction than those with orientations less frequently observed, such as the R10° domain. Graphical abstract: