Enhancements in the performance of organic–inorganic nanocomposite thermoelectrics may be obtained with both small and large energy barriers at the organic–inorganic interfaces.

ABSTRACT:Frictional, adhesive, and elastic characteristics of graphene edges are determined through lateral force microscopy. Measurements reveal a significant local frictional increase at exposed graphene edges, whereas a single overlapping layer of graphene removes this local frictional increase. Comparison of lateral force and atomic force microscopy measurements shows that local forces on the probe are successfully modeled with a vertical adhesion in the vicinity of the atomic-scale graphene steps which also provides a new low-load calibration method. Lateral force microscopy performed with carefully maintained low-adhesion probes shows evidence of elastic straining of graphene edges. Estimates of the energy stored of this observed elastic response is consistent with out-of-plane bending of the graphene edge. PACS (81.05.ue, 81.07.Lk, 46.55.+d, 68.35.Af, 62.20.de) 2

Lateral force microscopy (LFM) is used to probe the nanoscale elastic and frictional characteristics of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2).

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