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Nanoscale Frictional Characteristics Revealed

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PHILADELPHIA, Pa., April 7, 2010 — Friction force microscopy has been used to determine the nanoscale frictional characteristics of four atomically-thin materials, in the process discovering a universal characteristic for these very different materials. Nanotechnology researchers from the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University discovered that friction across these thin sheets increases as the number of atomic layers decreases, all the way down to one layer of atoms. This friction increase was surprising as there previously was no theory to predict this behavior. The finding reveals a significant...Read full article

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    Published: April 2010
    Glossary
    nano
    An SI prefix meaning one billionth (10-9). Nano can also be used to indicate the study of atoms, molecules and other structures and particles on the nanometer scale. Nano-optics (also referred to as nanophotonics), for example, is the study of how light and light-matter interactions behave on the nanometer scale. See nanophotonics.
    nanotechnology
    The use of atoms, molecules and molecular-scale structures to enhance existing technology and develop new materials and devices. The goal of this technology is to manipulate atomic and molecular particles to create devices that are thousands of times smaller and faster than those of the current microtechnologies.
    van der waals
    Van der Waals forces refer to the attractive or repulsive forces between molecules (or parts of molecules) that arise from fluctuations in electron distribution. These forces are relatively weak compared to covalent or ionic bonds but play a crucial role in determining the physical and chemical properties of substances, particularly in the context of intermolecular interactions. Types of and key points about Van der Waals Forces: London dispersion forces: Also known as dispersion forces or...
    Americasatomic layersBasic ScienceColumbia Universitydefensefriction force microscopyfrictional characteristicsgraphenehexagonal-BN (h-BN)Imaginginteratomic forcesJames HoneMicroscopymolybdenum disulfide (MoS2)nanonanoscalenanoscale electronicsnanotechnologynanotribologicalniobium diselenide (NbSe2)Research & TechnologyRobert Carpicksemiconductingsolid lubricant filmsTest & MeasurementUniversity of Pennsylvaniavan der Waals

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