title: Atomic vacancy-induced friction on the graphite surface: observation by lateral force microscopy.
abstract: Lateral force microscopy has been employed to investigate the frictional behaviour of atomic vacancies on the graphite surface. Such a study was only made possible by the controlled expansion of originally single-atom vacancies into multiatom vacancies, employing oxygen plasma etching for this purpose. Enhanced friction was observed on the vacancy regions compared with pristine areas of graphite, the origin of which is examined and discussed.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional del Carbón, CSIC, Apartado 73, 33080 Oviedo, Spain. paredes@incar.csic.es
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Paredes
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martínez-Alonso
authors.forename: J M D
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Tascón
mesh_terms: D017276:Friction; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry*; D008153:Lubrication; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D016252:Microscopy, Scanning Tunneling / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D006108:Graphite; D010100:Oxygen