Nanotribological Properties Research Articles

Rolling mechanism profundities on material removal mechanism of surface-textured GaN using Molecular dynamics simulation

Molecular dynamics simulation examines how the polishing tool's rotating velocity and axes affect surface nanotribological properties and material removal mechanism of patterned gallium nitride (GaN) substrates. Frictional coefficient and average contact area affect material removal rate (MRR) variance. Rotating speed increases the frictional coefficient and contact area, elevating MRR. Anticlockwise abrasives have substantially higher root-mean-square roughness (RMS) than clockwise ones. After polishing, increasing the rotating angle increases the frictional coefficient, average contact area, MRR, and RMS. MRR enhancement is maximum at −15 rad/ns, the only spinning velocity that improves MRR. RMS improvement ratio is highest when the polishing tool spins clockwise or the rotational axis orientation is lowered. Particularly, the MRR and RMS improvements after the polishing process can reach 103.8 % and 223.5 %, respectively. These findings help explain atomic-scale GaN-based material removal and deformation with frictional resistance and erosion by polishing.

Laser surface structuring of diamond-like carbon films for tribology

The paper overviews experimental findings of the direct laser processing and surface microstructuring (texturing) of various diamond-like carbon films (a-C:H, ta-C, DLN, metal-doped DLN), aimed at improvements of their tribological and nanotribological properties. The nanosecond UV and femtosecond IR/visible pulsed lasers were applied in microprocessing of the films, focusing on high precision surface structuring with fs-laser pulses. The studies were concentrated on the following tasks: (i) surface graphitization in laser microstructuring of the films under different irradiation conditions, (ii) lubricated friction performance of DLN films micropatterned with UV ns and visible fs pulsed lasers, and (iii) nanoscale friction of laser-structured DLN and metal-doped DLN films examined with contact-mode atomic force microscopy. The important findings of our studies are related to fabrication of highly-precise microgroove/microcrater patterns on DLN films and improvements of frictional properties of the laser-structured films at the macro, micro and nanoscale. The surface microstructures improved the film properties under oil-lubricated sliding in dependence on their geometrical parameters (size, depth, period) and ambient temperature. The nanoscale friction behavior of laser-structured films was shown to be controlled by the surface graphitization, nanoscale roughness, capillary forces and wear of AFM tips during friction force imaging.

Illuminating Pathways to Dynamic Nanotribology: Light-Mediated Active Control of Interfacial Friction with Nanosuspensions.

Active control of nanotribological properties is a challenge. Materials responsive to external stimuli may catalyze this paradigm shift. Recently, the nanofriction of a thin film is modulated by light, ushering in phototribology. This frontier is expanded here, by investigating photoactive nanoparticles in lubricants to confer similar functionality to passive surfaces. Quartz-crystal microbalance (QCM) is employed to assess the phototribological behavior of aqueous suspensions of titanium dioxide nanoparticles. A comparison of dark and illuminated conditions provides the first demonstration of tuning the interfacial friction in solid-nanosuspension interfaces by light. Cyclic tests reveal reversible transitions between higher (dark) and lower friction (illuminated) regimes. These transitions are underpinned by transient states with surface charge variations, as confirmed by Zeta potential measurements. The accumulated surface charge increases repulsion within the system and favors sliding. Upon cessation of illumination, the system returns to its prior equilibrium state. These findings impact not only nanotribology but nanofluidics and nanorheology. Furthermore, the results underscore the need to consider light-induced effects in other scenarios, including the calculation of activity coefficients of photoactive suspensions. This multifaceted study introduces a new dimension to in operando frictional tuning, beckoning a myriad of applications and fundamental insights at the nanoscale.

Impacts of chemical short-range orders on nanotribological properties of CrCoNi medium-entropy alloy at room and cryogenic temperatures

Presence of chemical short-range orders (SROs) had a great impact on the property-structure relationships of high/medium-entropy alloys (H/MEAs), but its influence on the tribological performance of H/MEAs has never been reported. This study provides an understanding on the chemical SRO degree dependent nanoscratching response of CrCoNi MEA by hybrid Monte-Carlo and molecular dynamic simulations. Friction coefficient, wear rate, worn surface morphology, phase stability and dislocation activities have been systematically investigated considering different load mode and temperature conditions. CrCoNi MEA exhibited superior nanotribological properties at cryogenic temperature than room temperature. Increasing chemical SRO degree is found to be effective in reducing friction and improving wear resistance and phase stability, regardless of nanoscratching conditions.

Influence of irradiation-induced point defects on nanotribological properties of m-plane GaN investigated using molecular dynamics simulation

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation toward the irradiation cascade collision of GaN (10−10) by using different primary knock-on atom (PKA) energies was performed. Simulation results showed that point defects comprising vacancies and interstitials in pairs increased with increased PKA energy. The number of stable defects after cascade collision was linearly related to the PKA energy, which well agreed with the Norgett–Robinson–Torrens equation. Then, we investigated the effect of irradiation-induced point defects on the nanotribological properties and subsurface damage of the GaN (10−10) workpiece by MD simulation of nanoscratching. The irradiation-induced point defects induced a significant change in the wear morphology, as well as more slight wear and a lower coefficient of friction, compared with non-irradiated GaN. The irradiated GaN also exhibited fewer chips and smoother surfaces than the non-irradiated one after scratching. The number of deformed atoms of GaN increased with increased PKA energy, suggesting that irradiation can suppress the atomic/near-atomic scale deformation of GaN crystal under certain conditions. The presence of point defects can, to some extent, hinder the development of dislocations and differentiate the scratching-induced subsurface damage. This study provided atomic-scale insight into the effect of irradiation point defects on the nanotribological behavior of GaN.

Controllable interface-tailored strategy to reduce the nanotribological properties of Ti3C2T x by depositing MoS2 using atomic layer deposition

Ti3C2T x MXene has attracted widespread attention in lubrication owing to its unique structure and surface properties. However, the inferior nanotribological properties of Ti3C2T x still limit its applications in nano lubricants. Herein, we propose a controllable interface-tailored strategy to reduce the nanotribological properties of Ti3C2Tx by depositing MoS2 nano-sheet on its surface using atomic layer deposition (ALD). The nanotribological properties of the MoS2/Ti3C2T x nanocomposites synthesized by ALD are studied by atomic force microscope for the first time. At the optimal 20 ALD MoS2 cycles, the nanofriction of MoS2/Ti3C2T x has been reduced by 57%, 46%, and 44% (at 5, 10, and 15 nN load, respectively), while the adhesion has been reduced by 59%, compared to the original Ti3C2T x . The results can contribute to understanding of the nanotribological mechanisms of Ti3C2T x composites and provide the potential prospects for Ti3C2T x as a nanoscale adjustable lubricant.

Nanotribological Characteristics of the Al Content of AlxGa1−xN Epitaxial Films

The nanotribological properties of aluminum gallium nitride (AlxGa1−xN) epitaxial films grown on low-temperature-grown GaN/AlN/Si substrates were investigated using a nanoscratch system. It was confirmed that the Al compositions played an important role, which was directly influencing the strength of the bonding forces and the shear resistance. It was verified that the measured friction coefficient (μ) values of the AlxGa1−xN films from the Al compositions (where x = 0.065, 0.085, and 0.137) were in the range of 0.8, 0.5, and 0.3, respectively, for Fn = 2000 μN and 0.12, 0.9, and 0.7, respectively, for Fn = 4000 μN. The values of μ were found to decrease with the increases in the Al compositions. We concluded that the Al composition played an important role in the reconstruction of the crystallites, which induced the transition phenomenon of brittleness to ductility in the AlxGa1−xN system.

Annealing Effect on Mechanical and Tribological Behaviors of Nanoscale Mechanics of Zr60Cu25Al5Ag5Ni5 Thin-Layer Metallic Glasses for Engineering Materials Applications.

A new and unique alloy formulation design strategy has been developed in order to fabricate thin-layered metallic glasses (TLMGs) with superior fracture resistance and low coefficient of friction (COF) during the nanoscratching test. Due to the outstanding properties, TFMG could be applied for different uses, such as for surface coating, biomedical, bioimprinting, electronic devices, spacecraft, and railway, all of which need surface fracture resistance. The fabricated Zr-based metallic glass was prepared from Zr, Al, Cu, Ni, and Ag above 99.9 Wt % in purity by arch melting techniques. TFMGs were coated on silicon wafer by sputtering the vapor deposition method from bulk metallic glass then annealed below glass transition temperature Tg ∼ 450 °C for 10, 30, and 60 min. Nanoindentation and nanoscratch tests were used to investigate nanomechanical and nanotribological properties, and atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to examine the surface morphology and microstructures of TLMG. The nanoindentation data indicated that the average hardness of metallic glasses increased from 9.75 (as-cast MG) to 13.4 GPa (annealed for 60 min). Coefficients of friction for the cast sample, annealed for unannealed, 10, 30, and 60 min, were 0.062, 0.049, 0.039, and 0.03, respectively, as well as the wear depths were 201.56, 148.43, 37.32, and 25.27 nm, respectively. These studies show that the coefficient of friction and wear rate decreases when the annealing time increases as a result of atomic reordering and structural relaxation that occurred at longer annealing times. Furthermore, continuous wear process, wear depth, wear track volume, and contact area decrease with increasing annealing time. This study can be used to design protocols to prepare novel TLMGs, which have outstanding mechanical and tribological properties for engineering materials applications.

Nanotribological Properties of Oxidized Diamond/Silica Interfaces: Insights into the Atomistic Mechanisms of Wear and Friction by Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics Simulations.

Controlling friction and wear at silica-diamond interfaces is crucial for their relevant applications in tribology such as micro-electromechanical systems and atomic force microscopes. However, the tribological performance on diamond surfaces is highly affected by the working environment where atmospheric gases are present. In this work, we investigate the effects of adsorbed oxygen on the friction and wear of diamond surfaces sliding against silica by massive ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. Different surface orientations, O-coverages, and tribological conditions are considered. The results suggest that diamond surfaces with full oxygen passivation are very effective in preventing surface adhesion, and as a result present extremely low friction and wear. At low oxygen coverage, Si-O-C bond formation was observed as well as atomistic wear initiated from C-C bond breaking at extreme pressure. The analysis of electronic structures of the configurations resulting from key tribochemical reactions clarifies the mechanisms of friction reduction and atomistic wear. Overall, our accurate in silico experiments shed light on the influence of adsorbed oxygen on the tribological properties and wear mechanisms of diamond against silica.

Influence of molybdenum concentration on the microstructure and nanotribological properties of diamond-like carbon films

Influence of molybdenum concentration on the microstructure and nanotribological properties of diamond-like carbon films

Phase-dependent Friction on Exfoliated Transition Metal Dichalcogenides Atomic Layers.

The fundamental aspects of energy dissipation on 2-dimensional (2D) atomic layers are extensively studied. Among various atomic layers, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) exists in several phases based on their lattice structure, which give rise to the different phononic and electronic contributions in energy dissipation. 2H and 1T' (distorted 1T) phase MoS2 and MoTe2 atomic layers exfoliated on mica substrate are obtained and investigated their nanotribological properties with atomic force microscopy (AFM)/ friction force microscopy (FFM). Surprisingly, 1T' phase of both MoS2 and MoTe2 exhibits ≈10 times higher friction compared to 2H phase. With density functional theory analyses, the friction increase is attributed to enhanced electronic excitation, efficient phonon dissipation, and increased potential energy surface barrier at the tip-sample interface. This study suggests the intriguing possibility of tuning the friction of TMDs through phase transition, which can lead to potential application in tunable tribological devices.

Novel carbon nanotubes reinforced Ti28Nb35.4Zr matrix composites fabricated via direct metal deposition for bone implant applications

In this study, new β Ti-28Nb-35.4Zr (hereafter denoted TNZ) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs; 0.1 wt.%) reinforced TNZ composite (hereafter denoted TNZCNT) were manufactured for bone implant applications via direct metal deposition (DMD). The effect of MWCNTs addition was systematically investigated on the microstructure and resultant mechanical, nano-tribological, and biocompatibility properties of TNZ. Results indicated that the microstructures of TNZ and TNZCNT composite were primarily composed of β along with localized α″ martensite phases. TNZ and TNZCNT composite exhibited average compressive yield strengths of 706 MPa and 833 MPa, respectively, with outstanding plastic deformation ability (>55%) without forming cracks and fractured surfaces under high compressive loads. Average nanohardness of TNZ and TNZCNT composite was measured as 2.9 GPa and 3.4 GPa, respectively. Compared to average wear volume of TNZ counterpart (0.19 µm3), nano-tribological tests also revealed higher resistance of TNZCNT composite to wear (0.07 µm3) owing to its higher hardness. MTS assay revealed that both TNZ and TNZCNT composite exhibit high viabilities of SaOS2 cells measured as 97.6% and 107.6%, respectively, after 7 d of cell culturing. Moreover, TNZCNT composite exhibited thriving adhesion and spreading of SaOS2 cells showing their growth and proliferation on its surface after cell culture for 1 and 7 d, demonstrating its extraordinary biocompatibility. Overall, owing to their appropriate mechanical, nano-tribological, and biocompatibility properties, the DMD-manufactured TNZ and TNZCNT composite displayed promising potential to be utilized as a candidate material for load-bearing implant applications.

Effect of the crystallographic c-axis orientation on the tribological properties of the few-layer PtSe2

Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides are potential candidates for ultrathin solid-state lubricants in low-dimensional systems owing to their flatness, high in-plane mechanical strength, and low shear interlayer strength. Yet, the effects of surface topography and surface chemistry on the tribological properties of 2D layers are still unclear. In this work, we performed a comparative investigation of nanoscale tribological properties of ultra-thin highly-ordered PtSe2 layers deposited on the sapphire substrates with the in-plane and out-of-plane crystallographic orientation of the PtSe2c-axis flakes, and epitaxial PtSe2 layers. PtSe2c-axis orientation was found to has an impact on the nanotribological, morphological and electrical properties of PtSe2, in particular the change in the alignment of the PtSe2 flakes from vertical (VA) to horizontal (HA) led to the lowering of the coefficient of friction from 0.21 to 0.16. This observation was accompanied by an increase in the root-mean-square surface roughness from 1.0 to 1.7 nm for the HA and VA films, respectively. The epitaxial films showed lower friction caused by lowering adhesion when compared to other investigated films, whereas the friction coefficient was similar to films with HA flakes. The observed trends in nanoscale friction is attributed to a different distribution of PtSe2 structure.

Nanofriction Properties of Mono- and Double-Layer Ti3C2Tx MXenes.

Unique structure and ability to control the surface termination groups of MXenes make these materials extremely promising for solid lubrication applications. Due to the challenging delamination process, the tribological properties of two-dimensional MXenes particles have been mostly investigated as additive components in the solvents working in the macrosystem, while the understanding of the nanotribological properties of mono- and few-layer MXenes is still limited. Here, we investigate the nanotribological properties of mono- and double-layer Ti3C2Tx MXenes deposited by the Langmuir-Schaefer technique on SiO2/Si substrates. The friction of all of the samples demonstrated superior lubrication properties with respect to SiO2 substrate, while the friction force of the monolayers was found to be slightly higher compared to double- and three-layer flakes, which demonstrated similar friction. The coefficient of friction was estimated to be 0.087 ± 0.002 and 0.082 ± 0.003 for mono- and double-layer flakes, respectively. The viscous regime was suggested as the dominant friction mechanism at high scanning velocities, while the meniscus forces affected by contamination of the MXenes surface were proposed to control the friction at low sliding velocities.

Nanotribology and electrical properties of carbon nanotubes hybridized with covalent organic frameworks

Nanomanipulation of molecular materials such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs) or new covalent organic frameworks (COFs) is key not only for the study of their fundamental physicochemical properties, but also for building and probing nanodevices. Therefore, we have investigated the tribological properties of oxidized MWCNTs (ox-MWCNTs) and their hybridization with COF building blocks (ox-MWCNTs@COF) adsorbed on a mica surface. We used the AFM tip to apply torsional forces on individual nanotubes. Depending on the manipulation parameters, the lateral displacements of the AFM tip slide and/or bend nanotubes enabling the direct quantification of the nanotube-mica adhesion. We found striking changes in the behaviour of the lateral force needed to manipulate each carbon nanotube variant which indicates an increased adhesion of ox-MWCNTs@COF with respect to ox-MWCNTs (∼10x). In addition, the use of the AFM tip as a mobile electrode enabled the measurement of electrical transport through individual nanotubes that revealed a rectifying behaviour of the ox-MWCNTs@COF with high resistivity, which was in contrast with the near ohmic performance of ox-MWCNTs.

Mechanical, corrosion, nanotribological, and biocompatibility properties of equal channel angular pressed Ti-28Nb-35.4Zr alloys for biomedical applications

This study systematically investigated the effect of equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) on the microstructure, mechanical, corrosion, nano-tribological properties and biocompatibility of a newly developed β Ti-28Nb-35.4Zr (hereafter denoted TNZ) alloy. Results indicated that ECAP of the β TNZ alloy refined its microstructure by forming ultrafine grains without causing stress-induced phase transformation, leading to formation of a single β phase. The ECAP-processed TNZ alloy exhibited a compressive yield strength of 960 MPa, and high plastic deformation capacity without fracturing under compression loads. Potentiodynamic polarization tests revealed the higher tendency of ECAP-processed TNZ alloys to form passive oxide films on its surface, which exhibited a lower corrosion rate (0.44±0.07 µm/y) in Hanks’ balanced salt solution compared to its as-cast counterpart (0.71±0.10 µm/y). Nanotribological testing also revealed higher resistance of the ECAP-processed TNZ alloy to abrasion, wear and scratching, when compared to its as-cast counterpart. Cytocompatibility and cell adhesion assessments of the ECAP-processed TNZ alloys showed a high viability (111%) of human osteoblast-like SaOS2 cells after 7 d of culturing. Moreover, the ECAP-processed TNZ alloy promoted adhesion and spreading of SaOS2 cells, which exhibited growth and proliferation on alloy surfaces. In summary, significantly enhanced mechanical, corrosion, and biological properties of ECAP-processed TNZ alloy advocate its suitability for load-bearing implant applications. Statement of significanceEqual channel angular pressing (ECAP) provides a unique combination of enhanced mechanical and functional properties of materials by optimizing their microstructures and phase transformations. This study investigated the mechanical, nano-tribological, corrosion, and biocompatibility properties of a newly developed β Ti-28Nb-35.4Zr (TNZ) alloy processed via ECAP. Our findings indicated that ECAP of the β TNZ alloy refined its microstructure by forming ultrafine grains without causing stress-induced phase transformation. Compared to its as-cast counterpart, ECAP-processed TNZ exhibited significantly enhanced compressive yield strength, plastic deformation capacity, hardness, wear, and corrosion properties. Moreover, in vitro cytocompatibility and cell adhesion studies revealed high cellular viabilities, growth and proliferation of osteoblast-like SaOS2 cells on the ECAP-processed TNZ alloy.

Mechanical and tribological behavior of TiB2/ Al2O3 coating on high-speed steel using electron beam deposition

At 600 °C, a TiB2-Al2O3-Ti(20 %) coating was deposited by electron beam deposition (EBD) on high-speed steel (HSS) substrates. X-ray diffraction and field emission scanning electron microscope and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were used to investigate the structural analysis and surface morphology of TiB2-Al2O3-Ti(20 %) coating. The effect of load on Young’s modulus and hardness was studied using mechanical experiments on TiB2-Al2O3-Ti(20 %) coatings at modest loads ranging from 2000 to 10000 µN. Nanoscratch was done on TiB2-Al2O3-Ti(20 %) coated on HSS and uncoated HSS sample at a low load of 0–10000µN, and the coated sample had a COF of 0.08–0.21, whereas the uncoated sample had a COF of 0.2–0.46. To investigate the deformation and failure behavior of the coating/substrate combination and their nanotribological properties, nano wear experiments were done on TiB2-Al2O3-Ti(20 %) coatings at loads ranging from 0.5 N to 2 N. The results demonstrate that Young’s modulus and hardness of the TiB2-Al2O3-Ti(20 %) coating decreases when the load increases. The TiB2-Al2O3-Ti(20 %) coating has a coefficient of friction(COF) ranging from 0.08 to 0.17, indicating that it is self-lubricating, whereas the COF of uncoated HSS is 0.1–0.58. With increasing stress, the wear rate of TiB2-Al2O3-Ti(20 %) coating grows from 2.6808 × 10−3 to 4.461 × 10−3 mm3/m, while uncoated HSS wears from 6.4367 × 10−3 to 21.2 × 10−3. The TiB2-Al2O3-Ti(20 %) coating had smooth wear scars having no cracks/debris on the sample surface, indicating that the coated material flowed near the wear scar in a plastic manner.

Nano Bi Chemical Modification and Tribological Properties of Bi/SiO2 Composite as Lubricating Oil Additives

Nano Bi Chemical Modification and Tribological Properties of Bi/SiO2 Composite as Lubricating Oil Additives

Design and characterization of metallic glass/graphene multilayer with excellent nanowear properties

The excellent properties of metallic glass (MG) films make them perfect candidates for the use in miniature systems and tools. However, their high coefficients of friction (COFs) and poor wear resistance considerably limit their long-term performance in nanoscale contact. We report the fabrication of a MG/graphene multilayer by the repeated deposition of Cu50Zr50 MG with alternating layers of graphene. The microstructure of the multilayer was characterized by the transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Its mechanical and nanotribological properties were studied by nanoindentation and nanoscratch tests, respectively. A molecular dynamics (MD) simulation revealed that the addition of graphene endowed the MG with superelastic recovery, which reduced friction during nanoscratching. In comparison with the monolithic MG film, the multilayer exhibited improved wear resistance and a low COF in repeated nanowear tests owing to the enhanced mechanical properties and lubricating effect caused by the graphene layer. This work is expected to motivate the design of other novel MG films with excellent nanowear properties for engineering applications.

Nanotribology of SiP nanosheets: Effect of thickness and sliding velocity

Two-dimensional compounds combining group IV A element and group V A element were determined to integrate the advantages of the two groups. As a typical 2D group IV–V material, SiP has been widely used in photodetection and photocatalysis due to its high carrier mobility, appropriate bandgap, high thermal stability, and low interlayer cleavage energy. However, its adhesion and friction properties have not been extensively grasped. Here, large-size and high-quality SiP crystals were obtained by using the flux method. SiP nanosheets were prepared by using mechanical exfoliation. The layer-dependent and velocity-dependent nanotribological properties of SiP nanosheets were systematically investigated. The results indicate the friction force of SiP nanosheets decreases with the increase in layer number and reaches saturation after five layers. The coefficient of friction of multilayer SiP is 0.018. The mean friction force, frictional vibrations, and the friction strengthening effect can be affected by sliding velocity. Specially, the mean friction force increases with the logarithm of sliding velocity at nm/s scale, which is dominated by atomic stick-slip. The influence of frequency on frictional vibration is greater than speed due to the different influences on the change in contact quality. The friction strengthening saturation distance increases with the increase in speed for thick SiP nanosheets. These results provide an approach for manipulating the nanofriction properties of SiP and serve as a theoretical basis for the application of SiP in solid lubrication and microelectromechanical systems.