In this paper, we report the tribological properties of self-assembled molecular (SAM) films of fluoroalkylsilanes and non-fluoroalkylsilanes, with different chain-lengths, adsorbed on Si substrate surfaces by covalent bonds. The SAM films were characterized using a universal ball-disk experimental tester in aqueous solutions. The substrate surface was examined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and the SAM films adsorbed on the Si surfaces were inspected by contact angle measurements

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... d XPS. Lubrication studies revealed that several kinds of fluoroalkylsilanes had similar friction coefficients; the small differences were attributed to the chain flexibility. In contrast, differences in the aqueous lubrication properties of SAM films of non-fluoroalkylsilanes were clearly identified. It is suggested that substitution with fluorine atoms and the surface affinities of fluoroalkylsilanes contributed to redistribution of surface changes, causing variations in lubrication behaviors. water-based lubrication, wettability, self-assmebled molecular films Citation: Liu Y H, Liu P X, Xiao Y Q. Tunable water-based lubrication behavior of alkyl-and fluoroalkyl-silanes.