Lubrication of rough copper with few-layer graphene

It has been demonstrated through experiments and simulations that friction decreases significantly when graphene is used as a solid lubricant on various materials. However, the effect of increasing number layers lubrication controversial. Some studies predict an increase with can be imputed to increased contact area, others decrease in attributed flexural rigidity layers. Herein, atomistic are performed investigate atomic mechanisms by which few-layers lubricate rough copper surfaces probed smooth tip. The results show drastically reduces friction, while deformation mechanism found change from wear recoverable flattening surface steps, amount interlocking between reduced.