Nanotribology of self-assembled monolayer with a probe tip investigated using molecular dynamics simulations

► Magnitudes and periods of friction force increase with decreasing scanning height. ► Normal force increases with tilt angle of probe tip when scanning height is below −0.9 nm. ► The friction force for the SAM is independent of the tilt angle of the probe tip. ► The ability of self-recovery is worse for magnitude of the specimen-tip separation below −0.9 nm.