Active control of surface forces via nanopore structures

초록

Understanding the effects of electrical potential on nanoscale contacts is critically needed for design and development of nanodevices. In the present letter, we characterize the metallic nanopore structure of nickel using an atomic force microscope. The morphology, phase distribution, and tribological behavior were studied under an applied electrical potential. It was found that the increase in electrical potential resulted in reduction of friction and pull-off force (adhesion), which is attributed to the real contact area change. Results indicated that the nanoporous structured Ni enables the control of friction and adhesion, which is beneficial for the design of nanoelectromechanical systems. (C) 2013 Author(s). All article content, except where otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.

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