Atomic-Scale Friction on Stepped Surfaces of Ionic Crystals

作者:Steiner Pascal; Gnecco Enrico*; Krok Franciszek; Budzioch Janusz; Walczak Lukasz; Konior Jerzy; Szymonski Marek; Meyer Ernst
来源:Physical Review Letters, 2011, 106(18): 186104.
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.106.186104

摘要

We report on high-resolution friction force microscopy on a stepped NaCl(001) surface in ultrahigh vacuum. The measurements were performed on single cleavage step edges. When blunt tips are used, friction is found to increase while scanning both up and down a step edge. With atomically sharp tips, friction still increases upwards, but it decreases and even changes sign downwards. Our observations extend previous results obtained without resolving atomic features and are associated with the competition between the Schwobel barrier and the asymmetric potential well accompanying the step edges.

  • 出版日期2011-5-6