To help reduce the amount of energy lost at sliding interfaces, such as in the production of electricity, it is imperative to minimize friction and wear. This is challenging because nanoscopic surface roughness generates regions of high contact pressures and shear forces that enhance the adverse effects associated with friction and wear. Graphene, a two-dimensional sp<sup>2</sup>-hybridized carbon material, is a promising solid lubricant for such harsh environments because of its high mechanical strength. The frictional properties of graphene depend on its interactions with the underlying substrate. To control these interactions, self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) can be used to alter the surface chemistry. The study here explores the impact of van der Waals adhesion vs. covalent binding interactions between graphene and the supporting surface. This is done utilizing a mixed SAM of octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) and a perfluorophenyl azide (PFPA) templated through particle lithography. The composition of the SAM was confirmed using attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). Single-layer graphene was mechanically exfoliated on the patterned SAMs and was identified by a combination of Raman microspectroscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Friction force microscopy (FFM) was used to investigate the frictional properties of the composite surfaces.<br/>

Covalent immobilization of graphene on patterned SAMs for investigation of frictional properties

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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