Structural superlubric slidevices

Structural superlubricity (SSL) is the wearless and nearly frictionless state of contact between solid surfaces, which are usually atomically smooth and subject to van der Waals forces or other non-bonding interactions. It provides a solution to friction and wear problems and offers unconventional design concepts for devices in a wide range of applications where energy efficiency and reliability are critical. Recent progress in device development using SSL can be found in sliding resonators, micro-/nanogenerators, sliding ferroelectrics, and mechanically reconfigurable devices. In this review the principles of SSL are discussed, followed by the design concepts of tiny sliding devices, which we introduce as “slidevices.” These slidevices can be integrated into multifunctional microsystems, where they can incorporate various functions and superlubric components.