title: Atomic-Scale Sliding Friction on Graphene in Water.
abstract: The sliding of a sharp nanotip on graphene completely immersed in water is investigated by molecular dynamics (MD) and atomic force microscopy. MD simulations predict that the atomic-scale stick-slip is almost identical to that found in ultrahigh vacuum. Furthermore, they show that water plays a purely stochastic role in sliding (solid-to-solid) friction. These observations are substantiated by friction measurements on graphene grown on Cu and Ni, where, oppositely of the operation in air, lattice resolution is readily achieved. Our results promote friction force microscopy in water as a robust alternative to ultra-high-vacuum measurements.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid (ICMM) , CSIC, c/Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz 3, E-28049 Madrid, Spain.|Departamento de Física Teórica de la Materia Condensada, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid , E-28049 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Vilhena
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Cristalografía y Mineralogía, Universidad Complutense de Madrid , E-28040 Madrid, Spain.|Instituto de Geociencias (CSIC, UCM) , E-28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pimentel
authors.affiliation: Instituto Madrileño de Estudios Avanzados, IMDEA Nanociencia , Calle Faraday 9, E-28049 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pedraz
authors.affiliation: Instituto Madrileño de Estudios Avanzados, IMDEA Nanociencia , Calle Faraday 9, E-28049 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid (ICMM) , CSIC, c/Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz 3, E-28049 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Pedro A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Serena
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Cristalografía y Mineralogía, Universidad Complutense de Madrid , E-28040 Madrid, Spain.|Instituto de Geociencias (CSIC, UCM) , E-28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Carlos M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Pina
authors.affiliation: Instituto Madrileño de Estudios Avanzados, IMDEA Nanociencia , Calle Faraday 9, E-28049 Madrid, Spain.|Otto Schott Institute of Materials Research, Friedrich Schiller University Jena , D-07742 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gnecco
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Física Teórica de la Materia Condensada, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid , E-28049 Madrid, Spain.|Condensed Matter Physics Center (IFIMAC), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid , E-28049 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Rubén
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pérez
keywords: friction; friction force microscopy; friction in water; graphene; hydration layers; lattice resolution; molecular dynamics; nanoasperity; nanoscale; steered molecular dynamics; vacuum; water