Abstract
The mechanism of superlubricity of the fullerene bearings is numerically studied using molecular mechanics simulations. First the superlubricity along the [101^^-0] direction of the graphite/C_<60>/graphite interface is discussed. It is clarified that the C_<60> bearing system has the lower friction coefficient and the lower lateral stiffness than the graphite system along [101^^-0] direction, which ascribes to the C_<60> rotation and the elastic contact at the C_<60>/graphite interface. Next we have found the marked anisotoropy of the superlubricity of this system with the periodicity of 60 deg.
