Abstract

Adhesion In Silicon Diamond Nanocontacts Is Boosted By Covalent Bonding And Atomic-level Plasticity

Author(s): Reny Yuong

Nanoindentation and sliding studies were carried out in situ using a transmission electron microscope employing single-crystal silicon atomic force microscope probes in contact with diamond surfaces in vacuum. The experimentally measured works of adhesion after sliding were much higher than the values expected for pure van der Waals interactions. Furthermore, during the sliding, the works of adhesion increased with both normal stress and speed, demonstrating that applied stress played a key part in the interface's response. Complementary Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations were performed to shed light on the atomic-level events that took place throughout the investigations.