Effect of the anion on the tribological properties of ionic liquid nano-films on surface-modified silicon wafers

The films of three kinds of 3-butyl-1-methylimidazolium base ionic liquids with thickness of 2 nm were prepared on hydroxyl-terminated and amino-terminated Si substrates by dip-coating method. As anions, tetrafluoroborate, hexafluorophosphate, and adipate, respectively, were chosen. The tribological performances of these thin films were examined by the determination of the film durability and friction coefficient by means of a UMT-2MT tribometer using a steel ball as counterpart. The morphologies of worn surfaces were investigated by a non-contact interferometric microscope. The findings showed that 3-butyl-1-methyl-imidazolium hexafluorophosphate having the poorest hydrophilicity of the ionic liquids exhibited the best tribological properties on aminated Si surface at 0.4 N and 4 Hz.