Abstract：Atomic-scale friction is one of the most hot topics in nanotribology. A great number of studies have shown that the behavior of atomic-scale friction is obviously different from that of macroscopic friction, which creates a big attraction for the mechanics community. In this article, we review the recent progress in atomic-scale friction. We first introduce the main approaches that are commonly used in studying atomic-scale friction. Then, we pay special attention to some key factors that have significant influences on the atomic-scale friction, such as load, temperature, speed, surface configuration, etc; and some novel phenomena that can only be observed at the nano-scale, such as superlubricity, negative friction coefficient, edge effect, etc. Finally, we give a brief perspective to the future study on the atomic-scale friction.
2014, Vol. 35 
