The description of friction of silicon MEMS with surface roughness: virtues and limitations of a stochastic Prandtl–Tomlinson model and the simulation of vibration-induced friction reduction

• W. Merlijn van Spengen,
• Viviane Turq and
• Joost W. M. Frenken

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2010, 1, 163–171, doi:10.3762/bjnano.1.20

• with individual atoms or a small part of a crystal lattice on the Ångstrom scale. It was found that regular, repeatable stick-slip behaviour of a contacting highest point (asperity) over the lattice of the other surface forms the very basis of the frictional processes as previously described [2][3]. To

• physically describe the stick-slip behaviour observed, the theories of Prandtl [4] and Tomlinson [5] were used [6][7]. This Prandtl–Tomlinson model has proven to be remarkably effective in describing atomic-scale friction. Further research on atomic-scale friction has resulted in a wealth of information on

• and wear problems [12]. The question is now how to describe friction on the larger scale of actual MEMS devices, which pair micrometer features and nanometer-scale surface roughness with nano- to micro-Newton forces. This friction is characterized by irregular, but repeatable, stick-slip motion. Can

Scanning probe microscopy and related methods

• Ernst Meyer

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2010, 1, 155–157, doi:10.3762/bjnano.1.18

• studied in great detail, where the main mechanism is related to atomic instabilities, which lead to the characteristic stick slip behaviour. The loading and velocitiy dependence were interpreted in terms of a thermally activated Prandtl–Tomlinson-model [5][6]. The transition into the superlubricity regime