Capillary Condensation in Atomic Scale Friction: How Water Acts like a Glue
- 27 April 2006
- journal article
- Published by American Physical Society (APS) in Physical Review Letters
- Vol. 96 (16), 166103
- https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.96.166103
Abstract
We present atomic-scale friction force measurements that strongly suggest that the capillary condensation of water between a tungsten tip and a graphite surface leads to the formation of ice at room temperature. This phenomenon increases the friction force, introduces a short-term memory in the form of an elastic response against shearing, and allows us to “write” a temporary line of ice on a hydrophobic surface. Rearrangements of the condensate are shown to take place on a surprisingly slow time scale of seconds.Keywords
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