CONTROL OF NANOSCALE FRICTION OF GOLD IN SODIUM DODECYL SULFATE AQUEOUS SOLUTION
The boundary lubrication properties of a SDS aqueous solution on gold surfaces can be controlled through the application of electrochemical potential to the sliding contact. The adsorption and desorption of the SDS boundary film was characterized by differential capacitance method. A nanotribology approach was used to study the boundary lubrication behavior of SDS adsorption film on gold surface rubbed by silica colloid probes using AFM at different applied potentials. The friction coefficient can be adjusted about 100% by applying the potential, which illustrates the correlation between the adsorption of SDS on gold surface with the boundary lubrication properties. This study shows the potential for tribotronics, where electric potential directly control the lubricating performance in industrial machinery.