Diana Berman, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Department of Materials Science and Engineering

UNT

Refreshments at 3:15 P.M.

Title and Abstract: 2D Materials as New Emerging Solid Lubricants

In recent years minimizing friction and wear-related failures in mechanical/tribological and electronic subsystems remains as one of the greatest challenges in today's moving mechanical assemblies. It is estimated that nearly 1/3 of the fuel used in automobiles is spent to overcome friction [1]. The tribological problems largely impact not only macroscale areas. Miniaturization of devices for a broad range of applications (from medical sensors, to micro- and nano-scaled machine technologies) calls for developing new materials that are effective at the nano- and microscales and may allow superior performance and long-lasting operation in a range of micromechanical systems. Controlling the friction and wear that occur in sliding contacts under high pressures and shear stresses is a ubiquitous challenge in many of these applications.

In this talk I will highlight superior performance of graphene, 2D carbon material, as a solid lubricant for the wide variety of applications, ranging in sizes from nano/micro scale (NEMS/MEMS) [2], to macroscale (moving electrical contacts, sliding/rolling, rotating and bearings, etc.) [3]. In particular, I will show experimental demonstration of superlubricity regime (near-zero friction) at macroscale [4] and highlight the new fundamental mechanism that could further predict frictional behavior of 2D materials systems, as well as offer a direct pathway for designing smart frictionless tribological systems for practical applications of industrial interest.