title: Some aspects of formation and tribological properties of silver nanodumbbells.
abstract: In this paper, metal nanodumbbells (NDs) formed by laser-induced melting of Ag nanowires (NWs) on an oxidized silicon substrate and their tribological properties are investigated. The mechanism of ND formation is proposed and illustrated with finite element method simulations. Tribological measurements consist in controllable real-time manipulation of NDs inside a scanning electron microscope (SEM) with simultaneous force registration. The geometry of NDs enables to distinguish between different types of motion, i.e. rolling, sliding and rotation. Real contact areas are calculated from the traces left after the displacement of NDs and compared to the contact areas predicted by the contact mechanics and frozen droplet models.
  81.07.-b; 62.25.-g; 62.23.Hj.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia, Kengaraga str. 8, Riga LV-1063, Latvia.
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Polyakov
authors.affiliation: Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia, Kengaraga str. 8, Riga LV-1063, Latvia.
authors.forename: Sergei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vlassov
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physics, University of Tartu, Riia str. 142, Tartu 51014, Estonia ; Estonian Nanotechnology Competence Center, Riia str. 142, Tartu 51014, Estonia.
authors.forename: Leonid M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Dorogin
authors.affiliation: I.I.Mechnikov Odessa National University, Dvoryanskaya str. 2, Odessa 65082, Ukraine.
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Novoselska
authors.affiliation: Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia, Kengaraga str. 8, Riga LV-1063, Latvia.
authors.forename: Jelena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Butikova
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physics, University of Tartu, Riia str. 142, Tartu 51014, Estonia ; Estonian Nanotechnology Competence Center, Riia str. 142, Tartu 51014, Estonia.
authors.forename: Mikk
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Antsov
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physics, University of Tartu, Riia str. 142, Tartu 51014, Estonia ; Estonian Nanotechnology Competence Center, Riia str. 142, Tartu 51014, Estonia.
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oras
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physics, University of Tartu, Riia str. 142, Tartu 51014, Estonia ; Estonian Nanotechnology Competence Center, Riia str. 142, Tartu 51014, Estonia.
authors.forename: Runno
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lohmus
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physics, University of Tartu, Riia str. 142, Tartu 51014, Estonia ; Estonian Nanotechnology Competence Center, Riia str. 142, Tartu 51014, Estonia.
authors.forename: Ilmar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kink
keywords: Nanomanipulation; Silver nanowires; Tribology