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Nanotribological Properties of Fluorinated, Hydrogenated, and Oxidized Graphenes

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Abstract

Recently, the tribological properties of graphene have been intensively examined for potential applications in micro- and nano-mechanical graphene-based devices. Here, we report that the tribological properties can be easily altered via simple chemical modifications of the graphene surface. Friction force microscopy measurements show that hydrogenated, fluorinated, and oxidized graphenes exhibit, 2-, 6-, and 7-fold enhanced nanoscale friction on their surfaces, respectively, compared to pristine graphene. The measured nanoscale friction should be associated with the adhesive and elastic properties of the chemically modified graphenes. Density-functional theory calculations suggest that, while the adhesive properties of chemically modified graphenes are marginally reduced down to ~30 %, the out-of-plane elastic properties are drastically increased up to 800 %. Based on these findings, we propose that nanoscale friction on graphene surfaces is characteristically different from that on conventional solid surfaces; stiffer graphene exhibits higher friction, whereas a stiffer three-dimensional solid generally exhibits lower friction. The unusual friction mechanics of graphene is attributed to the intrinsic mechanical anisotropy of graphene, which is inherently stiff in plane, but remarkably flexible out of plane. The out-of-plane flexibility can be modulated up to an order of magnitude by chemical treatment of the graphene surface. The correlation between the measured nanoscale friction and the calculated out-of-plane flexibility suggests that the frictional energy in graphene is mainly dissipated through the out-of-plane vibrations, or the flexural phonons of graphene.

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Article Open access 09 February 2016

Md. Sajibul Alam Bhuyan, Md. Nizam Uddin, … Sayed Shafayat Hossain

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Acknowledgments

The study was supported by the WCU (World Class University) programs (R-31-2008-000-10055-0, R31-2008-000-10071-0, and R31-2008-000-10057-0), and the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grants (2012R1A2A1A01009249, KRF-2010-0005390, and 2012-046191) funded by the Korea goverment (MEST). This study was also supported by the Research Center Program (CA1201) of IBS (Institute for Basic Science), Quantum Metamaterials Research Center (Grant No. R11-2008-053-03002-0), and the Global Frontier R&D Program by the Center for Multiscale Energy Systems (2011-0031566) and the Center for Advanced Soft Electronics (2011-0031640) through the NRF of Korea.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Nanoscience and Technology (WCU) KAIST, Daejeon, 305-701, Republic of Korea

    Jae-Hyeon Ko & Yong-Hyun Kim

  2. Graduate School of EEWS (WCU), KAIST, Daejeon, 305-701, Republic of Korea

    Sangku Kwon & Jeong Young Park

  3. Center for Nanomaterials and Chemical Reactions, Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon, 305-701, Republic of Korea

    Yong-Hyun Kim & Jeong Young Park

  4. Division of Quantum Phases & Devices, Department of Physics, Konkuk University, Seoul, 143-701, Republic of Korea

    Ik-Su Byun, Jin Sik Choi & Bae Ho Park

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  1. Jae-Hyeon Ko
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Correspondence to Yong-Hyun Kim or Jeong Young Park.

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Jae-Hyeon Ko and Sangku Kwon contributed equally to this study.

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Ko, JH., Kwon, S., Byun, IS. et al. Nanotribological Properties of Fluorinated, Hydrogenated, and Oxidized Graphenes. Tribol Lett 50, 137–144 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11249-012-0099-1

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