Electrically Tunable Friction through Surface Adsorption Layer Restructuring.

ABSTRACT: Electric-potential-controlled friction, which manipulates the frictional response of lubricants via an applied potential, offers the possibility of on-demand lubrication. Conventional understanding suggests that the applied potential influences the adsorption of surfactant ions on rubbing surfaces, thereby altering friction. This study investigates the effect of applied potential on the tribological behavior of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) aqueous solutions in steel-steel contacts through experiments and molecular simulations. It is shown that SDS, as an anionic surfactant, readily forms hemicylindrical surface micelles due to electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions, achieving high coverage even at low concentrations. Consequently, the adsorbed Na⁺ counterions are more respon

SUBMITTER: Zhao Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12766684 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature