Electric-field-induced friction reduction and control.

Friction is always present when surfaces in contact are set in motion. In this work I describe how a precise, active control of the global friction is possible by adjusting the local molecular conformation of a polyelectrolyte coating via the application of an alternating electric field. The intensity of the applied field determines the degree of interpenetration between polymer brushes in contact, regulating chain stretching while sliding, which is the process at the origin of the global friction. The dynamics of the problem is controlled by the relaxation times of the polyelectrolyte.