Ultra-low friction of graphene/C-60/graphene coatings for realistic rough surfaces

HX Li and PS Branicio, CARBON, 152, 727-737 (2019).

DOI: 10.1016/j.carbon.2019.06.020

The tribological properties of the graphene/C-60/graphene sandwich structure are investigated by molecular dynamics simulations. Friction coefficients are calculated for the sandwich structure, composed of graphene layers and a single C-60 film layer, i.e. a 111 monolayer of a C-60 face centered cubic crystal. The effect of surface roughness on the tribological properties is considered explicitly by coating a diamond surface with three different surface roughness values, 0 angstrom, 2.5 angstrom and 5 angstrom. Results indicate ultra-low friction coefficients for the sandwich structure in all cases. The friction coefficients predicted are mu <0.01, for load pressure in the range of 1-8 GPa. The sandwich structure synergizes the outstanding strength and low friction coefficient of graphene with the nanobearing properties of C-60 molecules. These simulation results suggest that the graphene/C-60/graphene sandwich structure provide an ultra-low friction, strong, and wear resistant coating for realistic (rough) surfaces. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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