We observed two types of stearic acid single crystals having different lattice constants with a friction force microscope to study the molecular scale friction. Molecularly resolved friction force microscope images and molecularly periodic stick-slip motions of the cantilever were observed. The stick-slip motion of the cantilever was measured in terms of the normal load acting on the silicon nitride cantilever and scanning directions over the single crystals.
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Takano et al. (1996) studied this question.