• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• 제7권3호
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• pp.118-122
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• 2006

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) films were prepared on silicon substrates by the RF PECVD (Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition) method using methane $(CH_4)$ and hydrogen $(H_2)$ gas. We examined the effects of the post annealing temperature on the tribological properties of the DLC films using friction force microscopy (FFM). The films were annealed at various temperatures ranging from 300 to $900^{\circ}C$ in steps of $200^{\circ}C$ using RTA equipment in nitrogen ambient. The thickness of the film was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and surface profile analysis. The surface morphology and surface energy of the films were examined using atomic force microscopy and contact angle measurement, respectively. The hardness of the DLC film was measured as a function of the post annealing temperature using a nano-indenter. The tribological characteristics were investigated by atomic force microscopy in FFM mode.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• 제38권6호
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• pp.235-240
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• 2022

Atomically-thin 2D nanomaterials can be easily deformed and have surface corrugations which can influence the frictional characteristics of the 2D nanomaterials. Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) graphene can be grown in a wafer scale, which is suitable as a large-area surface coating film. The CVD growth involves cooling process to room temperature, and the thermal expansion coefficients mismatch between graphene and the metallic substrate induces a compressive strain in graphene, resulting in the surface corrugations such as wrinkles and atomic ripples. Such corrugations can induce the friction anisotropy of graphene, and therefore, accurate imaging of the surface corrugation is significant for better understanding about the friction anisotropy of CVD graphene. In this work, the combinatorial analysis using friction force microscopy (FFM) and transverse shear microscopy (TSM) was implemented to unveil the friction anisotropy of CVD bi-layer graphene. The periodic friction anisotropy of the wrinkles was measured following a sinusoidal curve depending on the angles between the wrinkles and the scanning tip, and the two domains were observed to have the different friction signals due to the different directions of the atomic ripples, which was confirmed by the high-resolution FFM and TSM imaging. In addition, we revealed that the atomic ripples can be easily suppressed by ironing the surface during AFM scans with an appropriate normal force. This work demonstrates that the friction anisotropy of CVD bilayer graphene is well-correlated with the corrugated structures and the local friction anisotropy induced by the atomic ripples can be controllably removed by simple AFM scans.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• 제35권5호
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• pp.286-293
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• 2019

In friction and wear tests that use friction force microscopy (FFM), the wear debris transfer to the tip apex that changes tip radius is a crucial issue that influences the friction and wear performances of films and coatings with nanoscale thicknesses. In this study, FFM tests are performed for bilayer $MoS_2$ film to obtain a better understanding of how geometrical and chemical changes of tip apex influence the friction and wear properties of nanoscale molecular layers. The critical load can be estimated from the test results based on the clear distinction of the failure area. Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectroscopy are employed to measure and observe the geometrical and chemical changes of the tip apex. Under normal loads lower than 1000 nN, the reuse of tips enhances the friction and wear performance at the tip-sample interface as the contact pair changes with the increase of tip radius. Therefore, the reduction of contact pressure due to the increase of tip radius by the transfer of $MoS_2$ or Mo-dominant wear debris and the change of contact pairs from diamond/$MoS_2$ to partial $MoS_2$ or Mo/$MoS_2$ can explain the critical load increase that results from tip reuse. We suggest that the wear debris transfer to the tip apex should be considered when used tips are repeatedly employed to identify the tribological properties of ultra-thin films using FFM.

• 한국윤활학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국윤활학회 2002년도 proceedings of the second asia international conference on tribology
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• pp.167-168
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• 2002

In this study, the effects of oxide layer formed on the wear tracks of TiN coated silicon wafer on friction characteristics were investigated. Silicon wafer was used for the substrate of coated disk specimens, which were prepared by depositing TiN coating with $1\;{\mu}m$ in coating thickness. AISI 52100 steel balls were used for the counterpart. The tests were performed both in air for forming oxide layer on the wear track and in nitrogen to avoid oxidation. This paper reports characterization of the oxide layer effects on friction characteristics using X-ray diffraction (XRD). scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and friction force microscope (FFM).

• 한국전기전자재료학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국전기전자재료학회 2005년도 하계학술대회 논문집 Vol.6
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• pp.166-167
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• 2005

본 연구에서는 RF 플라즈마 화학기상증착 장비를 사용하여 동일조건에서 합성된 100 nm 두께의 DLC박막을 RTA 장비를 사용하여 $N_2$ 분위기로 여러 가지 온도에서 ($300\sim900^{\circ}C$) 후열처리된 DLC 박막들의 마찰특성 변화를 AFM (Atomic Force Microscopy)의 FFM (Friction Force Microscopy) 모드를 사용하여 관찰하였다.

• 한국전기전자재료학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국전기전자재료학회 2008년도 하계학술대회 논문집 Vol.9
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• pp.181-181
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• 2008

DLC (Diamond-like Carbon) 박막은 높은 내마모성과 낮은 마찰 계수, 화학적 안정성 및 적외선 영역에서의 높은 투과율과 낮은 광 반사도, 높은 전기저항과 낮은 유전율, 전계방출특성 등 여러 가지 장점을 가진 물질이다[1]. 최근에는 DLC 박막의 여러 장점들과 산과 염기 유기용매에 대한 화학적 안정성으로 인하여 인조관절에서 인공심장의 판막에 이르기까지 의공학 관련 부품소재로 응용되고 있으며 내구성과 안정성에 있어서 탁월한 성능을 보여주고 있다. 또한 DLC 박막의 높은 경도와 낮은 마찰 계수, 부드러운 박막 표면 (수nm의 RMS 거칠기)의 장점을 살려 마그네틱 미디어와 하드디스크의 슬라이딩 표면에 사용되어지고, MEMS (Micro-Electro Mechanical System) 소자와 MMAs (Moving Mechanical Assemblies)의 고체윤활코팅으로 활용하여 미세기계의 내구성과 성능 향상을 도모할 수 있다. 이와 같이 DLC 박막은 다양한 분야에 응용되고 있으며, 박막이 지닌 여러 가지 장점들로 인하여 더 많은 분야에 응용될 가능성을 지닌 물질이다. 그러나 수 ${\mu}m$이상의 두께에서 박막이 높은 잔류응력 (residual stress)을 가지고, 열에 취약하여 이의 개선에 관한 연구들이 진행되어 지고 있다 [2]. 따라서 사용되는 목적에 따라 용도에 맞는 양질의 DLC 박막을 합성하기 위해선 합성 장치의 개발과 다양한 실험을 통한 최적의 합성조건 도출 등의 노력이 요구된다. 또한 DLC 박막 합성시의 여러 가지 증착 방법에 따른 박막 물성에 대한 재현성 확보 및 박막 증착에 관한 명확한 메커니즘 규명이 아직까지는 불분명하여 이에 관한 연구가 시급하다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 MEMS 소자와 MMAs의 고체윤활코팅으로 사용가능한 DLC 박막을 RF PECVD (Plasma Enhanced Vapor Deposition) 방식으로 합성하고 후열처리 온도에 따른 DLC 박막의 마찰계수 변화를 박막에 훼손을 주지 않는 FFM (Friction Force Microscopy) 방식을 사용하여 분석하였다.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• 제27권6호
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• pp.344-350
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• 2011

Friction and wear behavior of tungsten oxide nanorods (TONs) was investigated using friction force microscopy(FFM) employing colloidal probes instead of conventional sharp tips. Vertically well-ordered TONs with 40 nm diameter, 130 nm length and 100 nm pitch width were synthesized on an anodic aluminium oxide substrate using two step electrochemical anodizing processes. The colloidal probe (diameter 20 ${\mu}m$) attached at the free end of tipless cantilever was oscillated(scanned) against a stationary surface of vertically aligned TONs with various scan speeds (1.2 ${\mu}m/s$, 3.0 ${\mu}m/s$ and 6.0 ${\mu}m/s$) and sliding cycles (100, 200 and 400) under normal load of 800 nN. The friction force and wear depth decreased with the increase of the scan speed. Plastically deformed thin layers were formed and sparsely deposited on the worn nonorod surface. The lower wear rate of the TONs with the longer oscillating cycles was attributed to the decreased real contact pressure due to the increase of real contact area between the colloidal probe and the TONs.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• 제11권5호
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• pp.128-135
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• 1995

Atomic force microscopy/friction force microscopy (AFM/FFM) techniques are increasingly used for tribological studies of engineering surfaces at scales, ranging from atomic and molecular to microscales. These techniques have been used to study surface roughness, adhesion, friction, scratching/wear, indentation, detection of material transfer, and boundary lubrication and for nanofabrication/nanomachining purposes. Micro/nanotribological studies of single-crystal silicon, natural diamond, magnetic media (magnetic tapes and disks) and magnetic heads have been conducted. Commonly measured roughness parameters are found to be scale dependent, requiring the need of scale-independent fractal parameters to characterize surface roughness. Measurements of atomic-scale friction of a freshly-cleaved highly-oriented pyrolytic graphite exhibited the same periodicity as that of corresponding topography. However, the peaks in friction and those in corresponding topography were displaced relative to each other. Variations in atomic-scale friction and the observed displacement has been explained by the variations in interatomic forces in the normal and lateral directions. Local variation in microscale friction is found to correspond to the local slope suggesting that a ratchet mechanism is responsible for this variation. Directionality in the friction is observed on both micro- and macro scales which results from the surface preparation and anisotropy in surface roughness. Microscale friction is generally found to be smaller than the macrofriction as there is less ploughing contribution in microscale measurements. Microscale friction is load dependent and friction values increase with an increase in the normal load approaching to the macrofriction at contact stresses higher than the hardness of the softer material. Wear rate for single-crystal silicon is approximately constant for various loads and test durations. However, for magnetic disks with a multilayered thin-film structure, the wear of the diamond like carbon overcoat is catastrophic. Breakdown of thin films can be detected with AFM. Evolution of the wear has also been studied using AFM. Wear is found to be initiated at nono scratches. AFM has been modified to obtain load-displacement curves and for nanoindentation hardness measurements with depth of indentation as low as 1 mm. Scratching and indentation on nanoscales are the powerful ways to screen for adhesion and resistance to deformation of ultrathin fdms. Detection of material transfer on a nanoscale is possible with AFM. Boundary lubrication studies and measurement of lubricant-film thichness with a lateral resolution on a nanoscale have been conducted using AFM. Self-assembled monolyers and chemically-bonded lubricant films with a mobile fraction are superior in wear resistance. Finally, AFM has also shown to be useful for nanofabrication/nanomachining. Friction and wear on micro-and nanoscales have been found to be generally smaller compared to that at macroscales. Therefore, micro/nanotribological studies may help def'me the regimes for ultra-low friction and near zero wear.