Influence of Oxygen Vacancies on the Frictional Properties of Nanocrystalline Zinc Oxide Thin Films in Ambient Conditions

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.7b01242
• Publication Date: 2017-08-16T11:52:02Z
• Authors: Huan-Pu Chang; En-De Chu; Yu-Ting Yeh; Yueh-Chun Wu; Fang-Yuh Lo; Wei-Hua Wang; Ming-Yau Chern; Hsiang-Chih Chiu
• Keywords: Nanocrystalline material

Oxygen vacancy is the most studied point defect and has been found to significantly influence physical properties of zinc oxide (ZnO). By using atomic force microscopy (AFM), we show that frictional on ZnO surface at nanoscale greatly depend amount oxygen vacancies present in layer ambient humidity. The photocatalytic effect (PCE) used qualitatively control reversibly switch wettability between hydrophobic superhydrophilic states. Because can attract water molecules, during AFM friction measurement, meniscus form asperities tip–ZnO contact due capillary condensation, leading negative dependence logarithm tip sliding velocity. Such be a strong function relative humidity manipulated by PCE. Our results indicate it possible optical approaches.