Strain engineering of friction between graphene layers

Molecular dynamics simulations are conducted to explore the possibility of strain engineering of interlayer friction of graphene. A graphene flake sliding on a strained graphene substrate is investigated to show that the interlayer friction can be versatilely tuned by strain. The friction at the incommensurate interface is insensitive to the tensile and small compressive strains, while at the commensurate interface the strain induced commensurability transition leads to a nonmonotonic variation of the friction with strain. The friction in both the commensurate and incommensurate cases can be remarkably enhanced by a large compressive strain when the flake is sliding next to the pucker generated by substrate buckling. Our findings may have general implications for the strain engineering of nanoscale friction. [Display omitted] •Strain induced commensurability transition can lead to a nonmonotonic variation of friction between graphene layers.•At large tensile strains, the interlayer friction of graphene is insensitive to the strain.•At large compressive strains, the interlayer friction of graphene can be remarkably enhanced by the pucker.