Collaborative Research: Atomic-scale study of friction for nano-electromechanical structures

沃什伯恩和保尔森这项研究的目的是了解原子和介观尺度上的摩擦。在这个层面上，人们对摩擦知之甚少，尽管随着机械和机电设备的缩小，摩擦的影响变得占主导地位。该方法是将敏感的摩擦力测量与最先进的显微镜和衍射技术相结合，能够确定两个表面上单个原子的位置。智能优势：几十年来，技术一直依赖于电子和机械系统的进一步小型化。在目前最先进的制造技术可以达到的纳米尺度上，摩擦力(和粘滞力)比重力等力大几个数量级。对纳米尺度的摩擦力有一个基本的了解，这对于未来纳米技术的设计和工程是至关重要的。碳纳米管将被用作几乎没有悬挂键和缺陷的模型表面，并将提供数据以与理论和计算模型进行比较。广泛影响：除了工作的科学影响，研究结果将支持未来在工作场所的机电设备如传感器等方面的技术进步。这项工作中的设备结构应该为下一代纳米电气和机械设备提供试验台。这项工作的另一个有益的“副作用”将是启动下一代科学家。北卡罗来纳州代表不足群体的更多参与将影响到社会的未来。

Washburn and PaulsonThe objective of this research is to understand friction at the atomic and mesoscopic scales. At this level friction is poorly understood, though as mechanical and electromechanical devices shrink, the effects of friction become dominant. The approach is to combine sensitive frictional force measurements with state of the art microscopy and diffraction techniques capable of determining the positions of individual atoms on both surfaces.Intellectual merit: For decades technology has relied on the further miniaturization of electrical and mechanical systems. At nanometer size scales currently attainable by state of the art fabrication techniques, friction (andstiction) is orders of magnitude larger than forces such as gravity. A fundamental understanding of friction at the nanometer length scale is crucial to design and engineering in future nanoscale technologies. Carbon nanotubes will be used as model surfaces nearly free of dangling bonds and defects, and will provide data to compare with theoretical and computational models.Broader Impact: Beyond the scientific impact of the work, the results of the study will underpin future technological advances toward electromechanical devices in the workplace as sensors, etc. Device structures in this work should provide testbeds for the next generation of nanometer electrical and mechanical devices. A separate beneficial "side-effect" of this work will be to launch the next generation of scientists. The increased participation of under-represented groups at UNC will ripple through the future of the society.