Effect of C60 molecular rotation on nanotribology.
The effect of C60 molecular rotation on the nanotribological properties of C60 single crystal surfaces has been studied by atomic/frictional force microscopy. The orientational order-disorder phase transition, in which the high temperature C60 free rotation is reduced to a low temperature hindered rotation, is shown to give rise to an abrupt change in friction and adhesion. This change in frictional force is quantitatively consistent with the observed change in adhesion. The similar slopes of the friction versus load curves in both phases indicate that the friction coefficient in the two phases remains about the same. Hence the C60 rotation does not provide an additional energy dissipation channel in the friction process.
Department of Physics and Institute of Nano Science and Technology, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China.
Qi
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Liang
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Tsui
Yabo
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Xu
Hongnian
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Li
Xudong
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Xiao