Sled-Type Motion on the Nanometer Scale: Determination of Dissipation and Cohesive Energies of C60

Nanotribological Study of Supramolecular Template Networks Induced by Hydrogen Bonds and van der Waals Forces

Nanotribology has been given increasing attention by researchers in pursuing the nature of friction. In the present work, an approach that combines the supramolecular assembly and nanotribology is introduced. Herein, the nanotribological study was carried out on seven supramolecular template networks [namely, hydrogen bond induced tricarboxylic acids and van der Waals force induced hexaphenylbenzene (HPB) derivatives]. The template networks, as well as the host-guest assemblies of template molecules induced by different forces, were constructed on the highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) surface and explicitly characterized using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Meanwhile, the nanotribological properties of the template networks were measured using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Together with the theoretical calculation using the density functional theory (DFT) method, it was revealed that the friction coefficients were positively correlated with the interaction strength. The frictional energy dissipation mainly derives from both the intermolecular interaction energy and the interaction energy between molecules and the substrate. The efforts not only help us gain insight into the competitive mechanisms of hydrogen bond and van der Waals force in supramolecular assembly but also shed light on the origin of friction and the relationship between the assembly structures and the nanotribological properties at the molecular level.

Friction fluctuations of gold nanoparticles in the superlubric regime

Superlubricity, or alternatively termed structural (super)lubrictiy, is a concept where ultra-low friction is expected at the interface between sliding surfaces if these surfaces are incommensurate and thus unable to interlock. In this work, we now report on sudden, reversible, friction changes that have been observed during AFM-based nanomanipulation experiments of gold nanoparticles sliding on highly oriented pyrolythic graphite. These effects can be explained by rotations of the gold nanoparticles within the concept of structural superlubricity, where the occurrence of ultra-low friction can depend extremely sensitively on the relative orientation between the slider and the substrate. From our theoretical simulations it will become apparent how even miniscule magnitudes of rotation are compatible to the observed effects and how size and shape of the particles can influence the dependence between friction and relative orientation.

Friction between van der Waals Solids during Lattice Directed Sliding

Nanometer-scale crystals of the two-dimensional oxide molybdenum trioxide (MoO₃) were formed atop the transition metal dichalcogenides MoS₂ and MoSe₂. The MoO₃ nanocrystals are partially commensurate with the dichalcogenide substrates, being aligned only along one of the substrate's crystallographic axes. These nanocrystals can be slid only along the aligned direction and maintain their alignment with the substrate during motion. Using an AFM probe to oscillate the nanocrystals, it was found that the lateral force required to move them increased linearly with nanocrystal area. The slope of this curve, the interfacial shear strength, was significantly lower than for macroscale systems. It also depended strongly on the duration and the velocity of sliding of the crystal, suggesting a thermal activation model for the system. Finally, it was found that lower commensuration between the nanocrystal and the substrate increased the interfacial shear, a trend opposite that predicted theoretically.

Nanomanipulation and controlled self-assembly of metal nanoparticles and nanocrystals for plasmonics

Localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs) associated with metallic nanostructures offer unique possibilities for light concentration beyond the diffraction limit, which can lead to strong field confinement and enhancement in deep subwavelength regions. In recent years, many transformative plasmonic applications have emerged, taking advantage of the spectral and spatial tunability of LSPRs enabled by near-field coupling between constituent metallic nanostructures in a variety of plasmonic metastructures (dimers, metamolecules, metasurfaces, metamaterials, etc.). For example, the "hot spot" formed at the interstitial site (gap) between two coupled metallic nanostructures in a plasmonic dimer can be spectrally tuned via the gap size. Capitalizing on these capabilities, there have been significant advances in plasmon enhanced or enabled applications in light-based science and technology, including ultrahigh-sensitivity spectroscopies, light energy harvesting, photocatalysis, biomedical imaging and theranostics, optical sensing, nonlinear optics, ultrahigh-density data storage, as well as plasmonic metamaterials and metasurfaces exhibiting unusual linear and nonlinear optical properties. In this review, we present two complementary approaches for fabricating plasmonic metastructures. We discuss how meta-atoms can be assembled into unique plasmonic metastructures using a variety of nanomanipulation methods based on single- or multiple-probes in an atomic force microscope (AFM) or a scanning electron microscope (SEM), optical tweezers, and focused electron-beam nanomanipulation. We also provide a few examples of nanoparticle metamolecules with designed properties realized in such well-controlled plasmonic metastructures. For the spatial controllability on the mesoscopic and macroscopic scales, we show that controlled self-assembly is the method of choice to realize scalable two-dimensional, and three-dimensional plasmonic metastructures. In the section of applications, we discuss some key examples of plasmonic applications based on individual hot spots or ensembles of hot spots with high uniformity and improved controllability.

Universal Aging Mechanism for Static and Sliding Friction of Metallic Nanoparticles

The term "contact aging" refers to the temporal evolution of the interface between a slider and a substrate usually resulting in increasing friction with time. Current phenomenological models for multiasperity contacts anticipate that such aging is not only the driving force behind the transition from static to sliding friction, but at the same time influences the general dynamics of the sliding friction process. To correlate static and sliding friction on the nanoscale, we show experimental evidence of stick-slip friction for nanoparticles sliding on graphite over a wide dynamic range. We can assign defined periods of aging to the stick phases of the particles, which agree with simulations explicitly including contact aging. Additional slide-hold-slide experiments for the same system allow linking the sliding friction results to static friction measurements, where both friction mechanisms can be universally described by a common aging formalism.

Morphology Change of C60 Islands on Organic Crystals Observed by Atomic Force Microscopy

Organic-organic heterojunctions are nowadays highly regarded materials for light-emitting diodes, field-effect transistors, and photovoltaic cells with the prospect of designing low-cost, flexible, and efficient electronic devices.1-3 However, the key parameter of optimized heterojunctions relies on the choice of the molecular compounds as well as on the morphology of the organic-organic interface,4 which thus requires fundamental studies. In this work, we investigated the deposition of C60 molecules at room temperature on an organic layer compound, the salt bis(benzylammonium)bis(oxalato)cupurate(II), by means of noncontact atomic force microscopy. Three-dimensional molecular islands of C60 having either triangular or hexagonal shapes are formed on the substrate following a "Volmer-Weber" type of growth. We demonstrate the dynamical reshaping of those C60 nanostructures under the local action of the AFM tip at room temperature. The dissipated energy is about 75 meV and can be interpreted as the activation energy required for this migration process.

Single-Molecule Tribology: Force Microscopy Manipulation of a Porphyrin Derivative on a Copper Surface

The low-temperature mechanical response of a single porphyrin molecule attached to the apex of an atomic force microscope (AFM) tip during vertical and lateral manipulations is studied. We find that approach-retraction cycles as well as surface scanning with the terminated tip result in atomic-scale friction patterns induced by the internal reorientations of the molecule. With a joint experimental and computational effort, we identify the dicyanophenyl side groups of the molecule interacting with the surface as the dominant factor determining the observed frictional behavior. To this end, we developed a generalized Prandtl-Tomlinson model parametrized using density functional theory calculations that includes the internal degrees of freedom of the side group with respect to the core and its interactions with the underlying surface. We demonstrate that the friction pattern results from the variations of the bond length and bond angles between the dicyanophenyl side group and the porphyrin backbone as well as those of the CN group facing the surface during the lateral and vertical motion of the AFM tip.

A simple criterion for determining the static friction force between nanowires and flat substrates using the most-bent-state method

A simple criterion was developed to assess the appropriateness of the currently available models that estimate the static friction force between nanowires and substrates using the 'most-bent-state' method. Our experimental testing of the static friction force between Al2O3 nanowires and Si substrate verified our theoretical analysis, as well as the establishment of the criterion. It was found that the models are valid only for the bent nanowires with the ratio of wire length over the minimum curvature radius [Formula: see text] no greater than 1. For the cases with [Formula: see text] greater than 1, the static friction force was overestimated as it neglected the effect of its tangential component.

Nanomechanical behavior of MoS2 and WS2 multi-walled nanotubes and carbon nanohorns

Nano-objects have been investigated for drug delivery, oil detection, contaminant removal, and tribology applications. In some applications, they are subjected to friction and deformation during contact with each other and their surfaces on which they slide. Experimental studies directly comparing local and global deformation are lacking. This research performs nanoindentation (local deformation) and compression tests (global deformation) with a nanoindenter (sharp tip and flat punch, respectively) on molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) multi-walled nanotubes (MWNTs), ~500 nm in diameter. Hardness of the MoS₂ nanotube was similar to bulk and does not follow the “smaller is stronger” phenomenon as previously reported for other nano-objects. Tungsten disulfide (WS₂) MWNTs, ~300 nm in diameter and carbon nanohorns (CNHs) 80–100 nm in diameter were of interest and also selected for compression studies. These studies aid in understanding the mechanisms involved during global deformation when nano-objects are introduced to reduce friction and wear. For compression, highest loads were required for WS₂ nanotubes, then MoS₂ nanotubes and CNHs to achieve the same displacement. This was due to the greater number of defects with the MoS₂ nanotubes and the flexibility of the CNHs. Repeat compression tests of nano-objects were performed showing a hardening effect for all three nano-objects.

Chemically grafted graphite nanosheets dispersed in poly(ethylene-glycol) by γ-radiolysis for enhanced lubrication

The γ-radiolysis derived chemical grafting of graphite nanosheets with poly(ethylene-glycol) results in a remarkable decrease in the friction coefficient and significantly enhanced antiwear characteristics of steel–steel sliding interfaces.

Channeling motion of gold nanospheres on a rippled glassed surface

Gold nanospheres have been manipulated by atomic force microscopy on a rippled glass surface produced by ion beam sputtering and coated with an ultrathin (10 nm thick) graphitic layer. This substrate is characterized by irregular wavy grooves running parallel to a preferential direction. Measurements in ambient conditions show that the motion of the nanoparticles is confined to single grooves ('channels'), along which the particles move till they are trapped by local bottlenecks. At this point, the particles cross the ripple pattern in a series of consecutive jumps and continue their longitudinal motion along a different channel. Moreover, due to the asymmetric shape of the ripple profiles, the jumps occur in the direction of minimum slope, resembling a ratchet mechanism. Our results are discussed, extending a collisional model, which was recently developed for the manipulation of nanospheres on flat surfaces, to the specific geometry of this problem.

Nanomanipulation, nanotribology and nanomechanics of Au nanorods in dry and liquid environments using an AFM and depth sensing nanoindenter

Nano-objects in dry and liquid conditions have shown reductions in friction and wear on the macroscale. In this research, for the first time, Au nanorods were studied on the nanoscale under dry conditions and submerged in water for their effect on friction and wear reduction. The data were compared with spherical Au nanoparticles. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) experiments on the nanoscale were performed in single-nano-object contact with an AFM tip, where nano-objects were laterally manipulated, and multiple-nano-object contact with a tip attached to a glass sphere sliding over several nano-objects. Nanoscale and macroscale wear tests with an AFM and ball-on-flat tribometer were performed to relate friction and wear reduction on both scales. Results indicate that Au nano-objects contribute to friction and wear reduction due to the reduced contact area and possible rolling and sliding on the nanoscale. Compression tests (global deformation) using a nanoindenter with a flat punch were used to investigate the mechanical behavior under load and its relation to friction and wear reduction. Repeat compression tests of nano-objects were performed which showed a strain hardening effect and increased pop-ins during subsequent loads.

Spinning and translational motion of Sb nanoislands manipulated on MoS2

Antimony nanoislands grown on a MoS2 surface in ultra-high vacuum have been manipulated by atomic force microscopy (AFM) in ambient conditions. The island profiles have been digitized and provided as an input to a collisional algorithm based on classical mechanics. Assuming that the islands are rigid and static friction is high enough to prevent further motion after the passage of the probing tip, the direction of motion and the angle of rotation of the islands have been reproduced numerically. For a given spacing between the scan lines, the angle of deflection with respect to the fast scan direction and the angular speed of the islands are expected to vary with the friction between islands and substrate. From a comparison between model and experiment a shear strength in the order of 0.2 MPa is estimated.

Observation of high-speed microscale superlubricity in graphite

A sheared microscopic graphite mesa retracts spontaneously to minimize interfacial energy. Using an optical knife-edge technique, we report first measurements of the speeds of such self-retracting motion (SRM) from the mm/s range at room temperature to 25 m/s at 235°C [corrected]. This remarkably high speed is comparable with the upper theoretical limit found for sliding interfaces exhibiting structural superlubricity. We observe a strong temperature dependence of SRM speed which is consistent with a thermally activated mechanism of translational motion that involves successive pinning and depinning events at interfacial defects. The activation energy for depinning is estimated to be 0.1-1 eV.

Measurement of the friction between single polystyrene nanospheres and silicon surface using atomic force microscopy

In the present work, the individual nanoparticles have been manipulated on a silicon surface, using atomic force microscope (AFM) techniques. As a model system, near-spherical polystyrene nanoparticles with radii from 28.85 nm to 228.2 nm were deposited on a nanosmooth silicon wafer. Experiments demonstrated that when the normal force is above a threshold load, nanoparticles could steadily be pushed by the tip of the AFM along the defined pathway. The tests allow us to quantitatively study the interfacial friction between the nanoparticle and the surface. It was found that the friction could be affected by various factors such as the load, the particle size, and the surface treatment. The results showed that the friction between particles and substrate is proportional to the two-third power of the radius, which is in agreement with the Hertzian theory. It can also be seen that the ratio between the kinetic and the static friction was slightly changed from 0.3 to 0.6, depending on the size of the particles. However, the value of the ratio was little affected by other factors such as the particles' location, the tip normal force and the surface modification. The results provided new insights into the intriguing friction phenomenon on the nanoscale.

Static friction between silicon nanowires and elastomeric substrates

This paper reports the first direct measurements of static friction force and interfacial shear strength between silicon (Si) nanowires (NWs) and poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS). A micromanipulator is used to manipulate and deform the NWs under a high-magnification optical microscope in real time. The static friction force is measured based on "the most-bent state" of the NWs. The static friction and interface shear strength are found to depend on the ultraviolet/ozone (UVO) treatment of PDMS. The shear strength starts at 0.30 MPa without UVO treatment, increases rapidly up to 10.57 MPa at 60 min of treatment and decreases for longer treatment. Water contact angle measurements suggest that the UVO-induced hydrophobic-to-hydrophilic conversion of PDMS surface is responsible for the increase in the static friction, while the hydrophobic recovery effect contributes to the decrease. The static friction between NWs and PDMS is of critical relevance to many device applications of NWs including NW-based flexible/stretchable electronics, NW assembly and nanocomposites (e.g., supercapacitors). Our results will enable quantitative interface design and control for such applications.

Organic molecules reconstruct nanostructures on ionic surfaces

Modification and functionalization of the atomic-scale structure of insulating surfaces is fundamental to catalysis, self-assembly, and single-molecule technologies. Specially designed syn-5,10,15-tris(4-cyanophenylmethyl)truxene molecules can reshape features on an ionic KBr (001) surface. Atomic force microscopy images demonstrate that both KBr monolayer islands and pits can reshape from rectangular to round structures, a process which is directly facilitated by molecular adsorption. Simulations reveal that the mechanism of the surface reconstruction consists of collective atomic hops of ions on the step edges of the islands and pits, which correlate with molecular motion. The energy barriers for individual processes are reduced by the presence of the adsorbed molecules, which cause surface structural changes. These results show how appropriately designed organic molecules can modify surface morphology on insulating surfaces. Such strongly adsorbed molecules can also serve as anchoring sites for building new nanostructures on inert insulating surfaces.

Controlled AFM manipulation of small nanoparticles and assembly of hybrid nanostructures

We demonstrate controlled manipulation of semiconductor and metallic nanoparticles (NPs) with 5-15 nm diameters and assemble these NPs into hybrid structures. The manipulation is accomplished under ambient environment using a commercial atomic force microscope (AFM). There are particular difficulties associated with manipulating NPs this small. In addition to spatial drift, the shape of an asymmetric AFM tip has to be taken into account in order to understand the intended and actual manipulation results. Furthermore, small NPs often attach to the tip via electrostatic interaction and modify the effective tip shape. We suggest a method for detaching the NPs by performing a pseudo-manipulation step. Finally, we show by example the ability to assemble these small NPs into prototypical hybrid nanostructures with well-defined composition and geometry.

Strain-release assembly of nanowires on stretchable substrates

A simple yet effective method for assembly of highly aligned nanowires (NWs) on stretchable substrates is reported. In this method, NWs were first transferred to a strained stretchable substrate. After the strain was released, the NWs aligned in the transverse direction and the area coverage of the NWs on the substrate increased. This method can be applied to any NWs deposited on a stretchable film and can be repeated multiple times to increase the alignment and density of the NWs. For silver (Ag) and silicon (Si) NWs on poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) substrates, the probability of NW alignment increased from 29% to 90% for Ag NWs, and from 25% to 88% for Si NWs after two assembly steps; the density increased by 60% and 75% for the Ag and Si NWs, respectively. The large-strain elasticity of the substrate and the static friction between the NWs and the substrate play key roles in this assembly method. We find that a model that takes into account the volume incompressibility of PDMS reliably predicts the degree of NW alignment and NW density. The utility of this assembly method was demonstrated by fabricating a strain sensor array composed of aligned Si NWs on a PDMS substrate, with a device yield of 95%.

Manipulation of gold colloidal nanoparticles with atomic force microscopy in dynamic mode: influence of particle-substrate chemistry and morphology, and of operating conditions

One key component in the assembly of nanoparticles is their precise positioning to enable the creation of new complex nano-objects. Controlling the nanoscale interactions is crucial for the prediction and understanding of the behaviour of nanoparticles (NPs) during their assembly. In the present work, we have manipulated bare and functionalized gold nanoparticles on flat and patterned silicon and silicon coated substrates with dynamic atomic force microscopy (AFM). Under ambient conditions, the particles adhere to silicon until a critical drive amplitude is reached by oscillations of the probing tip. Beyond that threshold, the particles start to follow different directions, depending on their geometry, size and adhesion to the substrate. Higher and respectively, lower mobility was observed when the gold particles were coated with methyl (-CH(3)) and hydroxyl (-OH) terminated thiol groups. This major result suggests that the adhesion of the particles to the substrate is strongly reduced by the presence of hydrophobic interfaces. The influence of critical parameters on the manipulation was investigated and discussed viz. the shape, size and grafting of the NPs, as well as the surface chemistry and the patterning of the substrate, and finally the operating conditions (temperature, humidity and scan velocity). Whereas the operating conditions and substrate structure are shown to have a strong effect on the mobility of the particles, we did not find any differences when manipulating ordered vs random distributed particles.

A collisional model for AFM manipulation of rigid nanoparticles

The trajectories of differently shaped nanoparticles manipulated by atomic force microscopy are related to the scan path of the probing tip. The direction of motion of the nanoparticles is essentially fixed by the distance b between consecutive scan lines. Well-defined formulas are obtained in the case of rigid nanospheres and nanowires. Numeric results are provided for symmetric nanostars. As a result, orienting the fast scan direction perpendicular to the desired direction of motion and reducing b well below the linear size of the particles turns out to be an efficient way to control the nanomanipulation process.

The interaction of an atomic force microscope tip with a nano-object: a model for determining the lateral force

A calculation of the lateral force interaction between an atomic force microscope (AFM) tip and a nano-object on a substrate is presented. In particular, the case where the AFM tip is used to manipulate the nano-object is considered; i.e., the tip is displaced across the nano-object with the feedback off. The Hamaker equations are used to calculate the force when the tip and sample are not in contact and the Johnson, Kendall and Roberts (JKR) or Derjaguin, Muller and Toporov (DMT) formalisms are used for the contact force. The effect of the material parameters, the choice of contact theory and the shape of the nano-object on the resulting lateral forces are explored. The calculation is applied to an experimental system consisting of a cadmium selenide nanorod on graphite.

Mechanical behavior of nanocrystalline NaCl islands on Cu(111)

The mechanical response of ultrathin NaCl crystallites of nanometer dimensions upon manipulation with the tip of a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) is investigated, expanding STM manipulation to various nanostructuring modes of inorganic materials as cutting, moving, and cracking. In the light of theoretical calculations, our results reveal that atomic-scale NaCl islands can behave elastically and follow a classical Hooke's law. When the elastic limit of the nanocrystallites is reached, the STM tip induces atomic dislocations and consequently the regime of plastic deformation is entered. Our methodology is paving the way to understand the mechanical behavior and properties of other nanoscale materials.

Atomic force microscope nanomanipulation with simultaneous visual guidance

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been used to assemble prototype nanostructures consisting of colloidal nanoparticles. In the standard manipulation protocol, the AFM is used either as a manipulation tool or an imaging tool, but not both at the same time. We developed a new nanomanipulation protocol in which simultaneous visual guidance is obtained during manipulation. As an example, Au nanoparticles were manipulated on a substrate in two steps. First, a nanoparticle is kicked with the z feedback off. This kicking event reduces the static friction. Second, the nanoparticle is dribbled to a target position in tapping mode, and visual guidance is provided by a ghost trace of the nanoparticle. The new manipulation protocol greatly improves efficiency of manipulating small nanoparticles (15 nm in diameter or smaller). Our work highlights the importance and challenges of understanding friction at the nanoscale.

Interfacial interactions between calcined hydroxyapatite nanocrystals and substrates

Interfacial interactions between calcined hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanocrystals and surface-modified substrates were investigated by measuring adsorption behavior and adhesion strength with a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and a contact-mode atomic force microscope (AFM), respectively. The goal was to develop better control of HAp-nanocrystal coatings on biomedical materials. HAp nanocrystals with rodlike or spherical morphology were prepared by a wet chemical process followed by calcination at 800 degrees C with an antisintering agent to prevent the formation of sintered polycrystals. The substrate surface was modified by chemical reaction with a low-molecular-weight compound, or graft polymerization with a functional monomer. QCM measurement showed that the rodlike HAp nanocrystals adsorbed preferentially onto anionic COOH-modified substrates compared to cationic NH2- or hydrophobic CH3-modified substrates. On the other hand, the spherical nanocrystals adsorbed onto NH2- and COOH-modified substrates, which indicates that the surface properties of the HAp nanocrystals determined their adsorption behavior. The adhesion strength, which was estimated from the force required to move the nanocrystal in contact-mode AFM, on a COOH-grafted substrate prepared by graft polymerization was almost 9 times larger than that on a COOH-modified substrate prepared by chemical reaction with a low-molecular-weight compound, indicating that the long-chain polymer grafted on the substrate mitigated the surface roughness mismatch between the nanocrystal and the substrate. The adhesion strength of the nanocrystal bonded covalently by the coupling reaction to a Si(OCH3)-grafted substrate prepared by graft polymerization was approximately 1.5 times larger than that when adsorbed on the COOH-grafted substrate.

Manipulation of cadmium selenide nanorods with an atomic force microscope

We have used an atomic force microscope (AFM) to manipulate and study ligand-capped cadmium selenide nanorods deposited on highly oriented pyrolitic graphite (HOPG). The AFM tip was used to manipulate (i.e., translate and rotate) the nanorods by applying a force perpendicular to the nanorod axis. The manipulation result was shown to depend on the point of impact of the AFM tip with the nanorod and whether the nanorod had been manipulated previously. Forces applied parallel to the nanorod axis, however, did not give rise to manipulation. These results are interpreted by considering the atomic-scale interactions of the HOPG substrate with the organic ligands surrounding the nanorods. The vertical deflection of the cantilever was recorded during manipulation and was combined with a model in order to estimate the value of the horizontal force between the tip and nanorod during manipulation. This horizontal force is estimated to be on the order of a few tens of nN.

The analytical relations between particles and probe trajectories in atomic force microscope nanomanipulation

Analytical expressions relating the trajectories of spherical nanoparticles pushed by an atomic force microscope tip to the scan pattern of the tip are derived. In the case of a raster scan path, the particles are deflected in a direction defined by the geometries of tip and particles and the spacing b between consecutive scan lines. In the case of a zigzag scan path, the particles are deflected in a range of directions around 90 degrees, also depending on the parameter b. Experimental results on gold nanoparticles manipulated on silicon surfaces in ambient conditions confirm the predictions of our model.

Frictional duality observed during nanoparticle sliding

One of the most fundamental questions in tribology concerns the area dependence of friction at the nanoscale. Here, experiments are presented where the frictional resistance of nanoparticles is measured by pushing them with the tip of an atomic force microscope. We find two coexisting frictional states: While some particles show finite friction increasing linearly with the interface areas of up to 310 000 nm(2), other particles assume a state of frictionless sliding. The results further suggest a link between the degree of surface contamination and the occurrence of this duality.

Manipulation of gold nanoparticles: influence of surface chemistry, temperature, and environment (vacuum versus ambient atmosphere)

We have manipulated raw and functionalized gold nanoparticles (with a mean diameter of 25 nm) on silicon substrates with dynamic atomic force microscopy (AFM). Under ambient conditions, the particles stick to silicon until a critical amplitude is reached by the oscillations of the probing tip. Beyond that threshold, the particles start to follow different directions, depending on their geometry and adhesion to the substrate. Higher and lower mobility were observed when the gold particles were coated with methyl- and hydroxyl-terminated thiol groups, respectively, which suggests that the adhesion of the particles to the substrate is strongly reduced by the presence of hydrophobic interfaces. Under ultrahigh vacuum conditions, where the water layer is absent, the particles did not move, even when operating the atomic force microscope in contact mode. We have also investigated the influence of the temperature (up to 150 degrees C) and of the geometrical arrangement of the particles on the manipulation process. Whereas thermal activation has an important effect in enhancing the mobility of the particles, we did not find differences when manipulating ordered versus random distributions of particles.

Interlayer forces and ultralow sliding friction in multiwalled carbon nanotubes

We describe interlayer force measurements during prolonged, cyclic telescoping motion of a multiwalled carbon nanotube. The force acting between the core and the outer casing is modulated by the presence of stable defects and generally exhibits ultralow friction, below the measurement limit of 1.4 x 10(-15) N/atom and total dissipation per cycle lower than 0.4 meV/atom. Defects intentionally introduced in the form of dangling bonds lead to temporary mechanical dissipation, but the innate ability of nanotubes to self heal rapidly optimizes the atomic structure and restores smooth motion.

Structured surfaces of wide band gap insulators as templates for overgrowth of adsorbates

Surface structures on wide band gap insulators and their use as templates for the growth of adsorbates are reviewed. Surface structures include evaporation structures, vicinal surfaces, facetted surfaces, epitaxial structures, or structures transferred to or induced by the growth of thin films. Most structures have been realized so far on Al(2)O(3) and on alkali halide crystals. The guided growth of adsorbates is discussed, considering the examples of metallic clusters or wires and ordered films of organic molecules.

C60 thin film growth on graphite: Coexistence of spherical and fractal-dendritic islands

The initial growth stage of C(60) thin film on graphite substrate has been investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy in ultrahigh vacuum at room temperature. The C(60) layer grows in a quasi-layer-by-layer mode and forms round, monolayer high islands on the graphite surface. The islands are confined by terraces on the graphite surface and the mobility of C(60) fullerenes across steps is low in all layers. The second and all subsequent layers adopt a fractal-dendritic shape, which was confirmed by calculating the fractal dimension (D=1.74 prior to island coalescence) and is in agreement with a diffusion limited aggregation. The profound differences between the growth of C(60) layers on graphite (first layer) and on C(60) surfaces (second and higher layers) are caused by the restriction of the C(60) mobility on the highly corrugated fullerene surfaces. The orientation of the fractal islands follows the hexagonal symmetry of the densely packed (111) surface of the fullerene lattice, which introduces a bias in the direction of molecule movement. The differences in surface topography on the nanoscale determine the mode of film growth in this van der Waals bonded system.

Nucleation and submonolayer growth of C60 on KBr

Noncontact atomic force microscopy has been applied to the prototypical molecule-insulator system C60 on KBr to study nucleation and submonolayer growth. Overview images reveal an island growth mode with unusual branching structures. Simultaneous molecular and atomic resolution on the C60 and KBr surfaces, respectively, was obtained revealing a coincident 8x3 superstructure. Also, a 21+/-3 pm apparent height difference was observed in atomic force microscopy topographies between some first layer molecules. One of the initial nucleation sites of the C60 islands was determined by observation of loosely bound molecules at kink sites in monatomic KBr steps, in conjunction with the observation that islands form preferentially at step edges.

Aluminum Polyphosphate Nanoparticles: Preparation, Particle Size Determination, and Microchemistry

Admixture of aluminum nitrate, sodium polyphosphate, and ammonium hydroxide solutions yields stable dispersions of hydrated aluminum polyphosphate particles within a broad reagent concentration range. These particles are formed by liquid-liquid phase separation, for which a phase diagram was calculated using suitable models for concentrated electrolyte solutions. Particle effective diameters range from a few nanometers to many hundreds and are fractionated by centrifugation. Particle electrophoretic mobility is very low and the hydration degree is high ( approximately 80% v/v). Dry nanoparticles (1- to 15-nm diameter as observed by TEM) as well as particle aggregates are obtained by lyophilization. Element (P, Al, and Na) mapping by ESI-TEM shows that particle aggregates have a core-and-shell morphology, with a higher content of P in the aggregate core and a higher Na content at the outer shell. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.

Nanometre-scale rolling and sliding of carbon nanotubes

Understanding the relative motion of objects in contact is essential for controlling macroscopic lubrication and adhesion, for comprehending biological macromolecular interfaces, and for developing submicrometre-scale electromechanical devices. An object undergoing lateral motion while in contact with a second object can either roll or slide. The resulting energy loss and mechanical wear depend largely on which mode of motion occurs. At the macroscopic scale, rolling is preferred over sliding, and it is expected to have an equally important role in the microscopic domain. Although progress has been made in our understanding of the dynamics of sliding at the atomic level, we have no comparable insight into rolling owing to a lack of experimental data on microscopic length scales. Here we produce controlled rolling of carbon nanotubes on graphite surfaces using an atomic force microscope. We measure the accompanying energy loss and compare this with sliding. Moreover, by reproducibly rolling a nanotube to expose different faces to the substrate and to an external probe, we are able to study the object over its complete surface.