Microfrictional behavior of C₆₀ particles in different C₆₀ LB films studied by AFM/FFM

C₆₀ was supposed to be a super lubricant on the basis of its unique spherical and highly symmetric structures. In the present work, efforts have been made to give some experimental approaches and evidences that strongly support the supposition of the "rolling effect" of C₆₀. For this purpose, three kinds of C₆₀ LB films were prepared designated for the predictable effects with or without "rolling". By studying the AFM morphologies and their corresponding frictional images, some evidences supporting the "rolling effect" of C₆₀ were observed in C₆₀/BA (behenic acid) and C₆₀/AA (arachidic acid)/OA (octadecylamine), while for the C₆₀ derivative LB film, results indicated a "nonrolling effect" related to a high frictional force.