title: Manipulation of nanoparticles of different shapes inside a scanning electron microscope.
abstract: In this work polyhedron-like gold and sphere-like silver nanoparticles (NPs) were manipulated on an oxidized Si substrate to study the dependence of the static friction and the contact area on the particle geometry. Measurements were performed inside a scanning electron microscope (SEM) that was equipped with a high-precision XYZ-nanomanipulator. To register the occurring forces a quartz tuning fork (QTF) with a glued sharp probe was used. Contact areas and static friction forces were calculated by using different models and compared with the experimentally measured force. The effect of NP morphology on the nanoscale friction is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia, Kengaraga 8, LV-1063, Riga, Latvia.
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Polyakov
authors.affiliation: Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia, Kengaraga 8, LV-1063, Riga, Latvia ; Institute of Physics, University of Tartu, Riia 142, 51014, Tartu, Estonia ; Estonian Nanotechnology Competence Center, Riia 142, 51014, Tartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: Sergei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vlassov
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physics, University of Tartu, Riia 142, 51014, Tartu, Estonia ; Estonian Nanotechnology Competence Center, Riia 142, 51014, Tartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: Leonid M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Dorogin
authors.affiliation: Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia, Kengaraga 8, LV-1063, Riga, Latvia.
authors.forename: Jelena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Butikova
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physics, University of Tartu, Riia 142, 51014, Tartu, Estonia ; Estonian Nanotechnology Competence Center, Riia 142, 51014, Tartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: Mikk
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Antsov
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physics, University of Tartu, Riia 142, 51014, Tartu, Estonia ; Estonian Nanotechnology Competence Center, Riia 142, 51014, Tartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oras
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physics, University of Tartu, Riia 142, 51014, Tartu, Estonia ; Estonian Nanotechnology Competence Center, Riia 142, 51014, Tartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: Rünno
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lõhmus
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physics, University of Tartu, Riia 142, 51014, Tartu, Estonia ; Estonian Nanotechnology Competence Center, Riia 142, 51014, Tartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: Ilmar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kink
keywords: contact mechanics; nanomanipulation; nanoparticles; nanotribology; scanning electron microscopy (SEM)