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Investigation of the Mechanics of Nanocontacts Using a Vibrating Cantilever Technique

  • Chapter
Fundamentals of Tribology and Bridging the Gap Between the Macro- and Micro/Nanoscales

Part of the book series: NATO Science Series ((NAII,volume 10))

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Abstract

A vibrating cantilever technique is presented, which allows the continuous measurement of the tip-sample interaction force F int(z) in the contact as well as in the non-contact region as a function of the tip-sample distance z. The method relies on the measurement of the frequency difference Δf = f — f0 between the eigenfrequency f 0 of the free cantilever and the actual resonance frequency f of the cantilever, which is influenced by the tip-sample interaction potential.

From such frequency shift data, F int(z) can be reconstructed, as we will demonstrate with the example of a silicon tip vibrating near a graphite surface. The resulting F int(z)-curves are subsequently used to extract parameters like the adhesion force F ad or the point of contact Z c . A detailed comparison with suitable model interactions additionally opens an elegant way to investigate the mechanics of the nanocontact, which behaves in good approximation as expected from the so-called Hertz-plus-offset model.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Applied Physics and Microstructure Research Center, University of Hamburg, Jungiusstr. 11, D-20355, Hamburg, Germany

    U. D. Schwarz, H. Hölscher, W. Allers, A. Schwarz & R. Wiesendanger

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  1. U. D. Schwarz
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  2. H. Hölscher
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  3. W. Allers
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  4. A. Schwarz
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  5. R. Wiesendanger
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Computer Microtribology and Contamination Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA

    Bharat Bhushan (Ohio Eminent Scholar and The Howard D. Winbigler Professor, Director) (Ohio Eminent Scholar and The Howard D. Winbigler Professor, Director)

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Schwarz, U.D., Hölscher, H., Allers, W., Schwarz, A., Wiesendanger, R. (2001). Investigation of the Mechanics of Nanocontacts Using a Vibrating Cantilever Technique. In: Bhushan, B. (eds) Fundamentals of Tribology and Bridging the Gap Between the Macro- and Micro/Nanoscales. NATO Science Series, vol 10. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-0736-8_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-0736-8_10

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-7923-6837-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-010-0736-8

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