What is it about?
We show that when strategic kirigami-inspired cuts are made in a graphene sheet simulations, the friction response becomes strongly dependent on how much the sheet is stretched. By designing a setup where the sheet is stretched as more load is applied, we can control the friction in a new and exciting way. This includes creating a negative friction coefficient, where friction actually decreases as the load increases — a rare and surprising behavior.
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Photo by Jacky Watt on Unsplash
Why is it important?
Our results serve as a proof of concept for a new class of tunable materials that enable custom-designed friction properties. This breakthrough unlocks a wide range of design possibilities, inviting exploration of novel and exotic friction behaviors through diverse kirigami cut patterns—opening exciting opportunities for future nanoscale applications.
Perspectives
It was exciting to take an everyday concept like kirigami — the art of cutting and folding paper — and apply it at the atomic scale to achieve results with meaningful scientific impact. What began as a fun idea quickly revealed implications far beyond what we initially expected. This work highlights how inspiration can come from the most unexpected places and reinforces the importance of following creativity and curiosity as guides in scientific discovery.
Mikkel Metzsch Juel
ETH Zürich, D-BAUG
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Strong strain dependence of friction in graphene kirigami allows engineering a negative coefficient of friction, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, July 2025, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2501728122.
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