The capability to synthesize atomically precise objects of large length, such as graphene opens the possibility to transpose the peculiar nanoscale tribological properties, such as superlubricity, to larger scales and exploit them to reduce friction and wear in micro and nano-mechanical devices. Understanding the mechanical response of such nano-structures is also crucial to improve their manipulation and the capability to assemble them into functional structures/circuits.
A simple analytical model to predict the breaking of superlubricity, as the size of the nanostructures grows, will be presented and discussed in light of the recent data on graphene nanotubes experiments.
Recent results on the manipulation of graphene nano-ribbons on gold surfaces will be presented and interpreted through molecular dynamics simulation and continuum mechanics models. Non-trivial behaviors and nonlinearities reveal how important the computational/modeling support can be to sustain experimental efforts.