Atomic-scale reconstruction of sapphire induced by selective tribochemical removal of surface atoms.

Jinhao Zhang, Chunhong Li, Yinhui Wang, Yongjie Zhang, Zhixian Chen, Jun Yang, Hui Deng

Abstract read

In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Jinhao ZhangDepartment of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0005-1902-7187

Chunhong LiDepartment of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.

Yinhui WangDepartment of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. wangyh3@sustech.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5585-4183

Yongjie ZhangDepartment of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.

Zhixian ChenDepartment of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.

Jun YangDepartment of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.

Hui DengDepartment of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. dengh@sustech.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7116-7188

Funding

China Postdoctoral Science Foundation 2025M771393National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 52405487National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 52450164National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 52505488

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Although biomimetic nanostructured surfaces can impart exceptional properties, their inherent fragility makes them prone to failure under mechanical wear. This study presents a method for friction-induced atomic-scale surface reconstruction of sapphire, resulting in durable, scale-like nanostructures that retain the hardness of bulk the sapphire (27.2 GPa). Friction experiments and reactive force field molecular dynamics simulation reveal that surface reconstruction is driven by the selective removal of atoms from less chemically inert crystal planes of sapphire via interfacial bridge bonds during friction with SiO

Identifiers

PMID41917064

DOI10.1038/s41467-026-71385-0

PMCPMC13201844

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.