The evaluation device for the tribological property of nano-thick film was successfully developed by the research group of the tribology of low dimensional materials of the Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, with the support of the CAS. With the inclination angle of 10^-5,μN and mN scale load and accurate control of the displacement at the nanometer scale, the device can evaluate the properties of micro-friction, micro-adhesion and tribological life under the conditions of ultra-low load and high-speed motion. The evaluation result can reach the world top level. In November 19, 2009, the device has passed the acceptance test of the projects of major scientific research devices organized by the Bureau of Planning and Finance of the CAS.

Super-hard film with the thickness of 1 to 10 nanometers and lubricant film with the thickness of 1 to 2 nanometers have been widely applied in micro electrical mechanical system (MEMS), ultra-high density disk, highly sophisticated devices and other high-tech fields. These nano-thick films all need to go through the evaluation of the mechanical and tribological property. However, traditional devices can not meet the requirements of evaluating the tribological property of nano-thick films. Through purchase, installation and integration of key parts and optimization of both soft and hard systems, LICP has successfully developed the device which can evaluate the tribological property of molecular lubricating film with the thickness of 1 to 10 nanometers. The device combines mechanical, acoustic, optical and electrical functions into one and has two operation modes, namely high speed and low speed operation modes. The development of the device is of great significance to the research on physical chemical and tribological properties of nano-thick film and development of new lubricants for space lubrication and other high-tech areas. The device is also important for further understanding the mechanism of nano-lubrication and developing nano-lubricating technology.

Currently, the research work has already applied 3 national patents. And the device has been successfully used in the “Research on Nano-thick Iconic Liquid Lubrication”-project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, “Research on Space Lubricating Materials and Technology”-project supported by the Foundation for Innovative Research Groups of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and other projects. The project of the device has played a significant role in pushing forward the research on micro/nano tribology.

Picture of the device