Atomic scale friction of a diamond tip on diamond (100) and (111) surfaces

Atomic scale friction resulting from contact between a diamond tip and diamond (100) and (111) surfaces was investigated using an ultrahigh vacuum force microscope. The results showed that on the (100) diamond surface, the frictional force featured periodic characteristics which were associated with a reconstructed surface convoluted over an asymmetric tip configuration. In the case of the (111) diamond surface, friction was not associated solely with the surface structure.