Superlubricity of C60 intercalated graphite films

Abstract

The frictional behavior of the C60 intercalated graphite films with a large size of 2.3 × 2.3 mm2 is reported. The C 60 intercalated graphite films consist of alternating close-packed C60 monolayers and graphite layers (graphenes), and thus infinite sliding planes are formed between each C60 monolayer and graphene. The intercalation of C60 molecules into graphite films results in superlubricity where both static and dynamic frictional forces are observed to be zero. © 2005 The Surface Science Society of Japan.