Dynamic Fluid‐Like Graphene with Ultralow Frictional Molecular Bearing

• Main Authors: Jeon, Intak (Author), Park, Gee Hoon (Author), Wang, Pan (Author), Li, Ju (Author), Hunter, Ian (Author), Swager, Timothy M (Author)
• Other Authors: Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Chemistry (Contributor), Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies (Contributor), Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering (Contributor), Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering (Contributor), Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Materials Science and Engineering (Contributor)
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley, 2020-10-19T22:18:10Z.
• Subjects: Article
• Online Access: Get fulltext

Fluid-like sliding graphenes but with solid-like out-of-plane compressive rigidity offer unique opportunities for achieving unusual physical and chemical properties for next-generation interfacial technologies. Of particular interest in the present study are graphenes with specific chemical functionalization that can predictably promote adhesion and wetting to substrate and ultralow frictional sliding structures. Lubricity between stainless steel (SS) and diamond-like carbon (DLC) is experimentally demonstrated with densely functionalized graphenes displaying dynamic intersheet bonds that mechanically transform into stable tribolayers. The macroscopic lubricity evolves through the formation of a thin film of an interconnected graphene matrix that provides a coefficient of friction (COF) of 0.01. Mechanical sliding generates complex folded graphene structures wherein equilibrated covalent chemical linkages impart rigidity and stability to the films examined in macroscopic friction tests. This new approach to frictional reduction has broad implications for manufacturing, transportation, and aerospace.
National Science Foundation (Grant DMR‐1809740)