R.W. Carpick, University of Wisconsin-Madison Wing Kam Liu, Northwestern University
Nanotechnology is leading to the rapid development of materials and devices whose structure and function are controlled at the atomic scale, and many such devices involve sliding interfaces. The intellectual merit of this work will be to determine the fundamental causes and effects of atomic stick-slip, which is a key feature of nanoscale sliding. We will use atomic force microscopy with well-characterized samples and tips. Through collaboration, experiments will be coupled to multiscale modeling that takes into account the deformation field in the contact for the same materials used in the experiment. We will address the key questions of commensurability, velocity and temperature dependence, the role of the vibrational properties, and the possibility of dramatically reducing friction by controlling stick-slip motion. The broader educational and societal impact involves an integrated education and outreach effort that leverages highly effective programs at each of our institutions.
