title: Nanoscopic friction under electrochemical control.
abstract: We propose a theoretical model of friction under electrochemical conditions focusing on the interaction of a force microscope tip with adsorbed polar molecules whose orientation depends on the applied electric field. We demonstrate that the dependence of friction force on the electric field is determined by the interplay of two channels of energy dissipation: (i) the rotation of dipoles and (ii) slips of the tip over potential barriers. We suggest a promising strategy to achieve a strong dependence of nanoscopic friction on the external field based on the competition between long-range electrostatic interactions and short-range chemical interactions between tip and adsorbed polar molecules.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: de Wijn
authors.affiliation: Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University Nijmegen, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fasolino
authors.affiliation: Donetsk Institute for Physics and Engineering of NASU, 83144 Donetsk, Ukraine.
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Filippov
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, Tel Aviv University, 69978 Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Urbakh