A Tribological Simulation for a Typical Carbon Coated AFM Cantilever Interacting with a Monolayer Graphene Sheet

Abstract

This study aims on the dynamic and tribological characterization of a Single Layer Graphene Sheet (SLGS) including the effects of a graphene cantilever’s deflection. A 10 x 10 nm graphene model is developed, which is modally analyzed for both Zigzag and Armchair lattices. A typical Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) cantilever with carbon coated tip is also modeled during the simulation. The friction forces applied on the tip during its movement can be evaluated. The real contact area is characterized as the carbon atom tip is interlinked with the graphene atoms via the Lennard-Jones model. This study confirmed that the deformation of the AFM cantilever, is important to predict more accurately the tribological behaviour of graphene and the effect of its lattice orientation to its frictional properties. Therefore, this simulation provides an interesting way to understand the complex interaction between the cantilever tip and the sample in different contact conditions.