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Superlubricity between Graphite Layers in Ultrahigh Vacuum.

Yanmin Liu^1,2, Kang Wang¹, Qiang Xu¹

¹State Key Laboratory of Tribology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces

|August 26, 2020

Summary

Graphite's basal planes exhibit exceptionally low intrinsic friction in ultrahigh vacuum (UHV), challenging previous assumptions about its lubricating performance. This study reveals graphite's superior lubricity under controlled UHV conditions, independent of edge effects.

Keywords:

graphite interlayer friction superlubricity thermally activated process ultrahigh vacuum

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Area of Science:

Tribology
Materials Science
Surface Science

Background:

Graphite's lubricating properties are traditionally considered inferior in vacuum compared to air.
This is attributed to dangling bonds on edge planes, which are passivated by atmospheric molecules, reducing friction.
The intrinsic lubricity of graphite's basal planes in vacuum remains experimentally unverified.

Purpose of the Study:

To experimentally determine the intrinsic lubricating performance of graphite's basal planes under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) conditions.
To investigate the influence of temperature on the friction behavior of graphite basal planes in UHV.

Main Methods:

Utilized atomic force microscopy (AFM) with graphite flake-wrapped tips for precise interlayer friction measurements.
Conducted experiments under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) conditions to eliminate environmental factors.
Measured friction coefficients across a temperature range of 125–448 K.

Main Results:

Achieved a record-low friction coefficient of 4 × 10^-5 for sliding between graphite basal planes in UHV.
Demonstrated significantly lower friction compared to graphite's performance in ambient air.
Observed temperature-dependent kinetic friction consistent with a thermally activated process.

Conclusions:

Graphite's basal planes possess intrinsic ultra-low friction properties under UHV conditions when edge effects are excluded.
This finding challenges conventional understanding and highlights the importance of controlled environments in tribological studies.
The study provides a foundation for advanced applications requiring extreme low-friction materials.