Control of nanoscale friction on gold in an ionic liquid by a potential-dependent ionic lubricant layer

James Sweeney, Florian Hausen, Robert Hayes, Grant B. Webber, Frank Endres, Mark W. Rutland, Roland Bennewitz, Rob Atkin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

213 Citations (Scopus)
22 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

The lubricating properties of an ionic liquid on gold surfaces can be controlled through application of an electric potential to the sliding contact. A nanotribology approach has been used to study the frictional behavior of 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium tris(penta-uoroethyl) tri-uorophosphate ([Py 1,4]FAP) confined between silica colloid probes or sharp silica tips and a Au(111) substrate using atomic force microscopy. Friction forces vary with potential because the composition of a confined ion layer between the two surfaces changes from cation-enriched (at negative potentials) to anion-enriched (at positive potentials). This offers a new approach to tuning frictional forces reversibly at the molecular level without changing the substrates, employing a self-replenishing boundary lubricant of low vapor pressure.

Original languageEnglish
Article number155502
Number of pages5
JournalPhysical Review Letters
Volume109
Issue number15
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 12 Oct 2012
Externally publishedYes

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