Robust microscale superlubricity under high contact pressure enabled by graphene-coated microsphere

Shu-Wei Liu, Hua-Ping Wang, Qiang Xu, Tian-Bao Ma (), Gui Yu (), Chenhui Zhang, Dechao Geng, Zhiwei Yu, Shengguang Zhang, Wenzhong Wang, Yuan-Zhong Hu, Hui Wang and Jianbin Luo ()
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Shu-Wei Liu: State Key Laboratory of Tribology, Tsinghua University
Hua-Ping Wang: Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Qiang Xu: School of Mechanical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology
Tian-Bao Ma: State Key Laboratory of Tribology, Tsinghua University
Gui Yu: Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Chenhui Zhang: State Key Laboratory of Tribology, Tsinghua University
Dechao Geng: Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Zhiwei Yu: State Key Laboratory of Tribology, Tsinghua University
Shengguang Zhang: School of Mechanical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology
Wenzhong Wang: School of Mechanical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology
Yuan-Zhong Hu: State Key Laboratory of Tribology, Tsinghua University
Hui Wang: State Key Laboratory of Tribology, Tsinghua University
Jianbin Luo: State Key Laboratory of Tribology, Tsinghua University

Nature Communications, 2017, vol. 8, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Superlubricity of graphite and graphene has aroused increasing interest in recent years. Yet how to obtain a long-lasting superlubricity between graphene layers, under high applied normal load in ambient atmosphere still remains a challenge but is highly desirable. Here, we report a direct measurement of sliding friction between graphene and graphene, and graphene and hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) under high contact pressures by employing graphene-coated microsphere (GMS) probe prepared by metal-catalyst-free chemical vapour deposition. The exceptionally low and robust friction coefficient of 0.003 is accomplished under local asperity contact pressure up to 1 GPa, at arbitrary relative surface rotation angles, which is insensitive to relative humidity up to 51% RH. This ultralow friction is attributed to the sustainable overall incommensurability due to the multi-asperity contact covered with randomly oriented graphene nanograins. This realization of microscale superlubricity can be extended to the sliding between a variety of two-dimensional (2D) layers.

Date: 2017
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms14029

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