Accurate control of friction with nanosculptured thin coatings: Application to gripping in microscale assembly

► Chromium thin films were sputter deposited implementing the GLAD method. ► Tribological properties of films are well controlled by the sputtering parameters (p,α). ► At p=0.11Pa, gradual variations of wettability are observed vs. incidence angle α. ► If p>0.2Pa, local variations of μs and wettability are observed vs. incidence angle α. ► Transition from sticking to sliding can be tuned by controlling the incidence angle α.