IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v7y2016i1d10.1038_ncomms13204.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Robust ultra-low-friction state of graphene via moiré superlattice confinement

Author

Listed:
  • Xiaohu Zheng

    (State Key Laboratory of Functional Materials for Informatics, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Lei Gao

    (State Key Laboratory of Tribology, Tsinghua University)

  • Quanzhou Yao

    (AML, CNMM, Tsinghua University)

  • Qunyang Li

    (State Key Laboratory of Tribology, Tsinghua University
    AML, CNMM, Tsinghua University)

  • Miao Zhang

    (State Key Laboratory of Functional Materials for Informatics, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Xiaoming Xie

    (State Key Laboratory of Functional Materials for Informatics, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Shan Qiao

    (State Key Laboratory of Functional Materials for Informatics, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Gang Wang

    (State Key Laboratory of Functional Materials for Informatics, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Tianbao Ma

    (State Key Laboratory of Tribology, Tsinghua University)

  • Zengfeng Di

    (State Key Laboratory of Functional Materials for Informatics, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Jianbin Luo

    (State Key Laboratory of Tribology, Tsinghua University)

  • Xi Wang

    (State Key Laboratory of Functional Materials for Informatics, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

Two-dimensional (2D) materials possess outstanding lubrication property with their thicknesses down to a few atomic layers, but they are easily susceptible to sliding induced degradation or ubiquitous chemical modification. Maintaining the superior lubricating performance of 2D materials in a harsh working environment is highly desirable yet grandly challenging. Here we show that by proper alignment of graphene on a Ge(111) substrate, friction of graphene could be well preserved at an ultra-low level even after fluorination or oxidation. This behaviour is experimentally found to be closely related to the suppression of molecular-level deformation of graphene within the moiré superlattice structure. Atomistic simulations reveal that the formation of an interconnected meshwork with enhanced interfacial charge density imposes a strong anchoring effect on graphene even under chemical modification. Modulating molecular-level deformation by interfacial confinements may offer a unique strategy for tuning the mechanical or even chemical properties of 2D materials.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaohu Zheng & Lei Gao & Quanzhou Yao & Qunyang Li & Miao Zhang & Xiaoming Xie & Shan Qiao & Gang Wang & Tianbao Ma & Zengfeng Di & Jianbin Luo & Xi Wang, 2016. "Robust ultra-low-friction state of graphene via moiré superlattice confinement," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms13204
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13204
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms13204
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/ncomms13204?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms13204. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.