Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 8, 2026

Synthesis, Assembly, and Characterization of Monolayer Protected Gold Nanoparticle Films for Protein Monolayer Electrochemistry
Published on: October 4, 2011
Thermally Activated Sliding of C60 on Gold
Matteo Pierno1, Lorenzo Bruschi1, Guido Paolicelli2
1Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia "G. Galilei", Università di Padova, via Marzolo 8, 35131 Padova, Italy.
Abstract:
Gold nanoclusters are known to slide easily on a graphite surface. In this study, we confirm the slipperiness of the gold-carbon interface by studying the sliding behavior of fullerene adsorbates on gold by using a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). More precisely, we transfer high-quality gold electrodes deposited on an atomically flat mica substrate to the QCM. By means of an effusion cell, we deposit C60 molecules on the QCM gold electrode kept in ultrahigh vacuum. We observe the pinning of the fullerene adsorbates at room temperature. As the temperature increases above 320 K, the fullerene adsorbates begin to slide. This thermally activated sliding is explained in terms of a simple diffusive model.
Related Concept Videos
Chair Conformation of Cyclohexane
The hydrogen atoms linked to carbons are arranged in two different axial and equatorial orientations to achieve this staggered...
Adaptability of Cytoskeletal Filaments
Assembly of Cytoskeletal Filaments
Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism
Cycloaddition Reactions: MO Requirements for Photochemical Activation
Heterogeneous Catalysis

