Collaborative Research: Control of Atomic-Scale Friction by Normal Surface Oscillation

该奖项的研究目标是开发控制方法，以减少表面振动引起的摩擦。以期望的方式控制摩擦特性传统上是通过化学手段实现的，而最近通过对滑动系统的可访问元素施加小扰动来机械控制系统的想法通过微观水平实验证明是有效的。特别是，通过驱动表面接触并在滑动表面之间引入正常振动，可以观察到超低摩擦。这项研究将使我们对法向表面振动对摩擦的影响有严格的数学认识，并找到定量调整振动参数的控制方法。该项目将与橡树岭国家实验室的科学家合作，通过原子力显微镜实验验证分析结果。如果成功，该项目将推进对纳米级摩擦的理解，并超越对行为的理解，达到精确控制它们的能力。减少接触面之间摩擦的方法在机械、MEMS和低摩擦表面的开发中得到了广泛的应用。该项目将为实验观察提供理论支持，并提出新的控制机制，指导减少摩擦的实验。研究结果将通过一个独特的原子尺度摩擦在线平台进行传播，该平台将在该项目下建立。为社区建设提供一个生动的环境，并促进来自不同学科的所有与摩擦控制相关的知识的发展。通过该项目资助的研究生将受益于该研究的多学科性质，并有机会访问和参与橡树岭国家实验室。

The research objective of this award is to develop control methodologies to reduce friction by surface vibration. Controlling frictional properties in a desired way is traditionally achieved by chemical means, while a recent idea in controlling the system mechanically by applying small perturbations to accessible elements of the sliding system was shown effective through microscopic level experiments. In particular, ultralow friction was observed by actuating surface contact and introducing normal vibrations between the sliding surfaces. The research will result in rigorous mathematical understanding of the effect of normal surface oscillation on friction, and control methods to quantitatively adjust vibration parameters. The project will validate the analytic results through atomic force microscopy experiments, in collaboration with scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. If successful, the project will advance the understanding of nanoscale friction, and move beyond the understanding of the behaviors to an ability to precisely control them. Methods in reducing friction between contacting surfaces find their wide applications in machines, MEMS, and in the development of low-friction surfaces. The project will provide theoretical support to experimental observations and suggest new control mechanisms guiding experiments towards the reduction of friction. The results will be disseminated through a unique online platform for atomic-scale friction that will be built under the project?s effort, in order to provide a live environment for community building and facilitate the evolvement of all knowledge related to friction control from different disciplines. The graduate student funded through the project will benefit from the multi-disciplinary nature of the research, and have the opportunity to visit and be involved with Oak Ridge National Laboratory.