Electrochemically-stimulated nanoscale mechanochemical wear of silicon

Abstract Mechanochemical reactions at the sliding interface between a single-crystalline silicon (Si) wafer and silica (SiO 2 ) microsphere were studied in three environmental conditions: humid air, potassium chloride (KCl) solution, KCl solution with an applied voltage. Compared to that from mechanochemical material removal surface increased substantially KCl-immersed condition, further when electrochemistry was introduced into tribological system. By measuring load dependence of rate analyzing results using mechanically assisted Arrhenius-type kinetic model, activation energy ( E mechanical m ), by which this is reduced activation, compared qualitatively under different conditions. In mechanochemistry may decrease required effective eff = − promote mainly through improved catalysis facilitated greater availability water molecules air condition. Thus, effectiveness improved. electrochemical electrochemically-accelerated oxidation confirmed X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) characterization. The strongly suggest stimulates primarily increasing initial state via formation interfacial bonding bridges, i.e., oxidation/hydroxylation process.