It is well-known that 2D materials are used to improve tribological properties either as solid lubricants or as lubricant additives. Few layers of 2D materials are known to provide reduced friction than monolayers because of the easy shearing between the layers due to the presence of van der Waals forces. However, monolayers also reduce friction, so is it due to the chemistry, inertness, and atomic level smoothness of monolayers or lower adhesion between the two contacting surfaces, or something else? Please enlighten me with your thoughts.
One possible mechanism by which 2D materials can reduce friction is through the formation of a solid lubricant film at the interface between the 2D material and another surface. This can occur due to the weak van der Waals interactions between the 2D material and the other surface, which allows for easy sliding and reduced friction.
Another possible mechanism is that the 2D material's atomic structure, which is composed of a single layer of atoms, provides a very smooth and even surface with few defects and less chance for the adhesion of other materials. This can lead to a reduction in the coefficient of friction by reducing the amount of mechanical interlocking between the two surfaces.
Additionally, the 2D materials can exhibit a high mechanical strength and flexibility which can lead to a reduced chance of deformation and cracking, thus reducing the wear and tear on the 2D material.
Moreover, 2D materials like graphene and MoS2 have high thermal conductivity which can reduce the heat generated during friction, this leads to reducing the coefficient of friction.
It's worth noting that the reduction of friction in 2D materials is not yet fully understood and more research is needed to fully understand the underlying mechanisms of this phenomena.
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