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

• 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

• surface asperities [26]. The static shear strength itself is determined by OH-bridging forces between the surfaces, direct chemical Si–O–Si bonds between the surfaces (the rupturing of these bonds leads to wear of the surfaces in the long run), and/or possibly liquid water meniscus strain or even gluing

• an average over 1000 scans. The fact that the slips appear sharp means that there was no significant change to their position over these 1000 scans and hence no surface changes (which would indicate wear). [Reprinted with permission from van Spengen, W. M.; Frenken, J. W. M. Tribol. Lett. 2007, 28

Scanning probe microscopy and related methods

• Ernst Meyer

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

• gives insight into fascinating phenomena, such as metal-superconductor transitions or metal-insulator transitions. Another important development is related to nanomechanics, where phenomena, such as friction, wear, elasticity and plasticity are studied on an atomic scale. Atomic friction has been

• information about the local bonding and to explore friction and wear mechanisms. Two different regimes were observed, which were related to the commensurability of the contacts [9]. The manipulation of a large number of particles gives also access to the size and shapes of the particles [10] and is discussed