Tribological behavior of micro/nano-patterned surfaces in contact with AFM colloidal probe

► Micro/nano-patterned surfaces with ordered cylindrical pillars were fabricated by replica molding technique. ► The friction force images for micro/nano-patterned surfaces were obtained by AFM technique using colloidal probes. ► A difference in friction force produced a contrast on the friction force images when the colloidal probe slid over different regions of the patterned polymer surfaces. ► When the size of colloidal probe was larger than the spacing between the pillars, the colloidal probe remained in contact with pillars, thus the probe-substrate contact area was reduced, leading to reduced friction during scanning.