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Effect of MoS2 and WS2 Nanotubes on Nanofriction and Wear Reduction in Dry and Liquid Environments

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Abstract

Nano-objects in dry and liquid conditions have shown reductions in friction and wear on the macroscale. Studies in low viscosity liquids with nanoparticles and nanotubes made of lubricating materials such as molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) and tungsten disulfide (WS2) are limited. In this research, MoS2 and WS2 nanotubes with spherical gold (Au) nano-objects as a control are studied on the nanoscale under dry and low viscosity liquid environments for their effect on friction and wear reduction. Atomic forces microscopy (AFM) experiments on the nanoscale are performed in single-nano-object contact with an AFM tip, where nano-objects are laterally manipulated and multiple nano-object contact with a tip attached to a glass sphere sliding over several nano-objects. Wear tests were performed on the nanoscale by means of AFM as well as on the macroscale using a ball-on-flat tribometer to relate friction and wear reduction on both scales. Results indicate that nano-objects such as MoS2 and WS2 nanotubes contribute to friction and wear reduction due to the reduced contact area and the possible rolling and sliding on the nanoscale. On the macroscale, reductions in friction and wear occur due to possible exfoliation of outer layers in addition to other mechanisms just mentioned.

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Acknowledgments

The financial support of this research was provided by a grant from the National Science Foundation, Arlington, VA (Grant # CMMI-1000108). We are especially grateful to Prof. Maja Remskar (Josef Stefan Institute, Slovenia) for providing MoS2 nanotubes and Prof. Reshef Tenne (Weizmann Institute, Israel) for providing WS2 nanotubes which made this research possible.

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  1. Nanoprobe Laboratory for Bio- & Nanotechnology and Biomimetics (NLBB), The Ohio State University, 201 W. 19th Avenue, Columbus, OH, 43210-1142, USA

    Dave Maharaj & Bharat Bhushan

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  1. Dave Maharaj
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Correspondence to Bharat Bhushan.

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Maharaj, D., Bhushan, B. Effect of MoS2 and WS2 Nanotubes on Nanofriction and Wear Reduction in Dry and Liquid Environments. Tribol Lett 49, 323–339 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11249-012-0071-0

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