Phonon-band engineering as a novel approach to modify frictional characteristics of mesoscopic solid materials Original Research Article

Wearless-frictional resistance accompanying steady sliding motion between mesoscopic lattices is studied by means of molecular dynamics simulations using simplified two- and one-dimensional models. An insight into how the frictional characteristics of a mesoscopic lattice reflect the local density of phonon states around the interface of the lattice was provided by the systematic analyses of change in the characteristics due to the isotope substitution. Based on these simulation results, the “phonon-band engineering” utilizing the nano-fabrication technology is proposed as a novel approach to design artificial mesoscopic solid materials of desired frictional characteristics for sub-micrometer size mechanisms and actuators.