Gosvami N N, Sinha S K, O'Shea S J
Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117576.
Phys Rev Lett. 2008 Feb 22;100(7):076101. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.100.076101. Epub 2008 Feb 20.
We study squalane and heptamethylnonane (HMN) confined between a conducting atomic force microscope tip and a graphite surface. Solvation layering occurs for both liquids but marked differences in the squeeze out mechanics are observed for ordered or disordered monolayers. The squalane monolayer at 25 degrees C is an ordered solid, as verified by direct imaging, and the squeeze out can be modeled using elastic continuum mechanics. HMN is in a disordered state at 25 degrees C and cannot be modeled as a single elastic asperity even in solid-solid contact because HMN liquid is trapped in the contact zone.