Solidification and superlubricity with molecular alkane films.

Alexander M Smith1,2, James E Hallett3, Susan Perkin1

  • 1Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QZ, United Kingdom; susan.perkin@chem.ox.ac.uk Alexander.Smith@unige.ch.

Summary

Investigating dodecane films between mica surfaces revealed ultralow friction. This occurs for single molecular layers on misaligned, dry surfaces, attributed to sliding at incommensurate interfaces.

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