title: Capillary condensation in atomic scale friction: how water acts like a glue.
abstract: We present atomic-scale friction force measurements that strongly suggest that the capillary condensation of water between a tungsten tip and a graphite surface leads to the formation of ice at room temperature. This phenomenon increases the friction force, introduces a short-term memory in the form of an elastic response against shearing, and allows us to "write" a temporary line of ice on a hydrophobic surface. Rearrangements of the condensate are shown to take place on a surprisingly slow time scale of seconds.
authors.affiliation: Kamerlingh Onnes Laboratory, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9504, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Jinesh
authors.forename: J W M
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Frenken