Nanotribology of novel metal dichalcogenides

Recently, new structural formulations of metal dichalcogenides have resulted in greatly enhanced lubricant properties, placing the mechanisms of lubrication for this class of materials under closer scrutiny. In this work, scanned probe microscope techniques have been used to probe the surface on a nanoscale, comparing friction and adhesion at specific surface sites. In addition, the role of interlayer shear and subsurface defects in moderating friction are examined. q1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.