Experimental observations of superlubricity and thermolubricity

Abstract

The chapter introduces and discusses nanoscale effects called superlubricity and thermolubricity. Superlubricity is the phenomenon in which two surfaces slide over each other in dry contact without the atomic-scale instabilities. Superlubricity can reduce friction forces by orders of magnitude. Thermolubricity is the effect that thermal excitations significantly assist the contact between two bodies in overcoming the energy barriers against sliding, resulting in a reduction of the friction forces of contacts that are not superlubric.