Tribological investigations on the macroscopic scale revealed that friction can be influenced in situ by applying electric potentials, if electrically conductive fluid such as an ionic liquid is used as a lubricant. Enrichment of charged ions at a steel interface occurs by applying electric surface potentials in a three-electrode setup. As a consequence, the lubrication conditions change. It is supposed that electrically influenced surface adsorption and electrokinetic effects are the main mechanisms by which friction is varied.
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