title: Enhanced lubricity in mixed alkanethiol monolayers.
abstract: The frictional properties of two-component mixed alkanethiol monolayers were investigated with frictional force microscopy. With large chain length differences, the two types of molecules segregated into large islands and reveal similar frictional properties as those of single-component monolayers. With small chain length differences, the completely mixed monolayers display a decreased friction as compared with single-component monolayers. This observation indicates that development of gauche kinks in the top portion of the mixed monolayers can enhance lubrication rather than increase friction, perhaps due to suppression of other energy dissipation channels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zuo
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: Xincheng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Xudong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xiao