Nanotribology and nanofabrication of MoO3 structures by atomic force microscopy

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 1996-05, Vol.272 (5265), p.1158-1161
• Main Authors: SHEEHAN, P. E, LIEBER, C. M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Atomic force microscopy; Chemistry; Clusters, nanoparticles, and nanocrystalline materials; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Electron, ion, and scanning probe microscopy; Electronics; Exact sciences and technology; Laboratory Equipment; Microelectronic fabrication (materials and surfaces technology); Microelectronics: LSI, VLSI, ULSI; integrated circuit fabrication technology; Molybdenum oxides; Nanoscale materials: clusters, nanoparticles, nanotubes, and nanocrystals; Nanotechnology; Physics; Scanning probe microscopy: scanning tunneling, atomic force, scanning optical, magnetic force, etc; Semiconductor electronics. Microelectronics. Optoelectronics. Solid state devices; Structure of solids and liquids; crystallography; Tribology
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.272.5265.1158

Atomic force microscopy was used to characterize the sliding of molybdenum oxide (MoO3) nanocrystals on single-crystal molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) surfaces. Highly anisotropic friction was observed whereby MoO3 nanocrystals moved only along specific directions of the MoS2 surface lattice. The energy per unit area to move the MoO3 nanocrystals along their preferred sliding direction was an order of magnitude less than required to slide macroscopic MoS2-bearing contacts. This extreme friction anisotropy was exploited to fabricate multicomponent MoO3 nanostructures. These reversibly interlocking structures could serve as the basis for devices such as mechanical logic gates.