Dynamics of Atomic Stick-Slip Friction

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The objective of this project is to gain further understanding of the dynamic aspects of frictional sliding at the atomic scale. In particular, this project will be focused on examining the structure of extremely small, nanoscale sliding contacts, characterizing the thermal and mechanical fluctuations of the contact under static and sliding conditions, and the effect thermal energy has on reducing friction in dry lubricated contacts. Examination of such fundamental concepts is crucial, despite the fact that the concept of friction is considered relatively simple. For example, although it is possible to easily measure friction and catalogue its effects, there currently exists no method of predicting the friction behaviour that will occur when two materials are brought into contact and begin to slide against each other. While our existing empirical friction laws have been widely exploited to date, innovation in the field of tribology, or the field concerned with understanding friction, is critical for improved environmental performance of mechanical systems, enhanced durability of these systems, and technological innovation of micro-/nano-electromechanical (M/NEMS). Given the goal of producing machines that are extremely energy efficient, long-lasting, and have low maintenance needs, an improved understanding of friction, with a specific emphasis of reducing the problem to physically predictive values and theories, is required. Nanotechnology and nanoscience are often thought of enabling these goals, as the complex problem of friction can be reduced in complexity to one that can be experimentally measured as well as completely re-created within a computer simulation.**In this research program, atomic force microscopy (AFM) will be used to examine friction between small, nanometre-sized tips sliding on a surface of atomically flat solid lubricants. AFM will be used in this study because it is able to measure forces sufficiently small to detect single chemical bonds breaking events, as well as laterally slide the tip along the surface by atomic distances. One issue with measuring friction with an AFM is that typical sliding speeds that can be achieved are on the order of 100 nm/s while typical machines operate at m/s sliding speeds. Measures will be taken to correct this deficiency in experiments. Furthermore, the influence of mechanical vibrations on reducing friction will be examined and their contributions to velocity dependent friction will be analyzed. This fundamental research represents the groundwork for reaching predictive models of friction, and will have far reaching impact on science and technology both in research institutions and industry.